Intangible Assets (Roll-forward of Goodwill, by Business Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 4,148	$ 4,030
Purchase price allocation adjustment	4	(7)
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	44	(6)
Balance at end of period	4,319	4,148
Insurance - North American
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,350	1,351
Purchase price allocation adjustment	0	(12)
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	3	0
Balance at end of period	1,353	1,350
Insurance - Overseas General
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	1,603	1,564
Purchase price allocation adjustment	0	5
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	38	3
Balance at end of period	1,764	1,603
Global Reinsurance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	365	365
Purchase price allocation adjustment	0	0
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	0	0
Balance at end of period	365	365
Life
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	830	750
Purchase price allocation adjustment	4	0
Foreign exchange revaluation and other	3	(9)
Balance at end of period	837	830
New York Life's Korea and Hong Kong
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		89
New York Life's Korea and Hong Kong | Insurance - North American
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
New York Life's Korea and Hong Kong | Insurance - Overseas General
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
New York Life's Korea and Hong Kong | Global Reinsurance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
New York Life's Korea and Hong Kong | Life
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		89
Penn Millers Holding Corporation
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		11
Penn Millers Holding Corporation | Insurance - North American
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		11
Penn Millers Holding Corporation | Insurance - Overseas General
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
Penn Millers Holding Corporation | Global Reinsurance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
Penn Millers Holding Corporation | Life
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
Rio Guayas
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		31
Rio Guayas | Insurance - North American
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
Rio Guayas | Insurance - Overseas General
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		31
Rio Guayas | Global Reinsurance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
Rio Guayas | Life
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition		0
JaPro
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition	123
JaPro | Insurance - North American
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition	0
JaPro | Insurance - Overseas General
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition	123
JaPro | Global Reinsurance
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition	0
JaPro | Life
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Acquisition	$ 0