Business, Basis of Presentation, and Significant Accounting Policies - Prior Period Statement of Cash Flows Revision (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$ 373	$ 87
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities		429	388
Cash flows from investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(1,140)	115
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		813	(496)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		4	10
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		106	17
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	[1]	2,459	2,720	$ 2,720
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	[1]	2,565	2,737	2,459
Scenario, Previously Reported
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income			107
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities			356
Cash flows from investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			125
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(474)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			10
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			17
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	[1]		2,720	2,720
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	[1]		2,737
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired		108	28
Amortization of deferred sales inducements		18	4
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)		22	7
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income		(21)	1
Interest sensitive contract liabilities		659	310
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable		(18)	(77)
Current income tax recoverable		95	39
Funds withheld assets and liabilities		(91)	8
Other assets and liabilities		4	9
Cash flows from investing activities
Other investing activities, net		381	85
Cash flows from financing activities
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts		(1,403)	(1,185)
Other financing activities, net		5	32
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year		2,445
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$ 2,563		2,445
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) | Scenario, Previously Reported
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired			20
Amortization of deferred sales inducements			2
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)			(1)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income			(9)
Interest sensitive contract liabilities			293
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable			(82)
Current income tax recoverable			47
Funds withheld assets and liabilities			(14)
Other assets and liabilities			21
Cash flows from investing activities
Other investing activities, net			95
Cash flows from financing activities
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts			(1,150)
Other financing activities, net			19
Gross Presentation of Modified Coinsurance Balances | Revisions
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income			0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities			0
Cash flows from investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			0
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	[1]		0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	[1]		0
Gross Presentation of Modified Coinsurance Balances | Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) | Revisions
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired			0
Amortization of deferred sales inducements			0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)			0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income			0
Interest sensitive contract liabilities			13
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable			(35)
Current income tax recoverable			0
Funds withheld assets and liabilities			22
Other assets and liabilities			0
Cash flows from investing activities
Other investing activities, net			0
Cash flows from financing activities
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts			0
Other financing activities, net			0
Prior Period Immaterial Revisions [Member] | Revisions
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income			(20)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities			32
Cash flows from investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(10)
Cash flows from financing activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(22)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			0
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	[1]		0	$ 0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	[1]		0
Prior Period Immaterial Revisions [Member] | Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE) | Revisions
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired			8
Amortization of deferred sales inducements			2
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)			8
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accrued investment income			10
Interest sensitive contract liabilities			4
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable			40
Current income tax recoverable			(8)
Funds withheld assets and liabilities			0
Other assets and liabilities			(12)
Cash flows from investing activities
Other investing activities, net			(10)
Cash flows from financing activities
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts			(35)
Other financing activities, net			$ 13

[1] Includes cash and cash equivalents of consolidated variable interest entities