Other Expenses (Other Expenses) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Compensation	$ 2,257us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	$ 2,392us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	$ 2,426us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Pension, postretirement and postemployment benefit costs	322	364	285
Commissions	828	781	769
Volume-related costs	70us-gaap_CostOfServicesOverhead	253us-gaap_CostOfServicesOverhead	241us-gaap_CostOfServicesOverhead
Affiliated interest costs on ceded and assumed reinsurance	1,009us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty	1,033us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty	1,209us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty
Capitalization of DAC	(424)	(562)	(632)
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	695	261	991
Interest expense on debt	151us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense	153us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense	152us-gaap_InterestAndDebtExpense
Premium taxes, licenses and fees	328us-gaap_DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts	263us-gaap_DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts	294us-gaap_DirectTaxesAndLicensesCosts
Professional services	1,013us-gaap_ProfessionalFees	989us-gaap_ProfessionalFees	946us-gaap_ProfessionalFees
Rent and related expenses, net of sublease income	128us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	143us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	123us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Other	(306)	(82)	(410)
Total other expenses	$ 6,071us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	$ 5,988us-gaap_OperatingExpenses	$ 6,394us-gaap_OperatingExpenses

Other expenses related to pension, postretirement & postemployment benefit costs.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Indirect expenses and cost incurred associated with services rendered by an entity during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(d))

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- Definition

Total amount of policy acquisition costs capitalized during the income statement period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

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Amount of deferred policy acquisition costs and capitalized present value of the future profits (PVFP) expensed. Acquisition costs are costs that are related directly to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (2)

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-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

Taxes and licenses incurred and are directly related to goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))

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- Definition

Interest and debt related expenses associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450988&loc=d3e26243-108391

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- Definition

Amount of interest expense incurred on a debt or other obligation to related party.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of expenditures for salaries, wages, profit sharing and incentive compensation, and other employee benefits, including equity-based compensation, and pension and other postretirement benefit expense.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of fees incurred for commissions on mutual funds and insurance products.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14)

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- Definition

Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

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- Definition

The sum of expenses not otherwise specified in the taxonomy for managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

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-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

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- Definition

A fee charged for services from professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The term is often expanded to include other professions, for example, pharmacists charging to maintain a medicinal profile of a client or customer.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 946

-SubTopic 225

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.2(a),(b),(c),(d))

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