Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Policy acquisition costs deferred			$ (1,791)	$ (371)
Purchases of:
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements			18,508	511
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements			899	390
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Reinsurance Agreement Payments			(394)	0
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired	$ 30	$ 80	211	251
Net investments (income) loss			(61)	(65)
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)			(559)	(1,271)
Accrued investment income			(70)	(67)
Policy acquisition costs deferred			(495)	(371)
Interest sensitive contract liabilities			562	1,655
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable			1,080	460
Funds withheld assets and liabilities			(239)	(327)
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2018 – $111 and 2017 – $126)			9,003	9,199
Trading securities			327	120
Investment funds			330	300
Derivative instruments and other invested assets			1,548	1,083
Short-term investments			430	289
Purchases of:
Fixed maturity securities (related party: 2017 – $(186) and 2016 – $0)			(12,128)	(13,668)
Mortgage loans			(4,079)	(1,925)
Trading securities			(17)	(79)
Investment funds			(1,073)	(366)
Derivative instruments and other invested assets			(973)	(562)
Short-term investments			(421)	(222)
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts			7,011	7,521
Repayments of Annuities and Investment Certificates			(4,254)	(3,701)
Payments for coinsurance agreements on investment-type contracts, net			9	(17)
Variable Interest Entities
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)			(18)	(28)
Purchases of:
Sales, maturities, and repayments of investments			114	40
Purchases of investments			(66)	(22)
Related Party \| Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Reinsurance Agreement Payments			(407)	0
Net investments (income) loss			(77)	(66)
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)			(5)	2
Accrued investment income			(13)	0
Interest sensitive contract liabilities			136	0
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable			54	0
Funds withheld assets and liabilities			(119)	0
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2018 – $111 and 2017 – $126)			111	126
Trading securities			30	52
Investment funds			197	219
Short-term investments			162	28
Purchases of:
Fixed maturity securities (related party: 2017 – $(186) and 2016 – $0)			(598)	(186)
Mortgage loans			(389)	0
Investment funds			(894)	(244)
Derivative instruments and other invested assets			(150)	0
Short-term investments			(121)	(37)
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts			140	0
Repayments of Annuities and Investment Certificates			(143)	0
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements			17,574	0
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements			604	0
Related Party \| Variable Interest Entities
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)			(18)	(29)
Purchases of:
Sales, maturities, and repayments of investments			103	40
Purchases of investments			(14)	(22)
Equity securities \| Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities			25	743
Purchases of:
Equity securities			163	655
Equity securities \| Related Party \| Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities			0	22
Exchange of Stock for Stock [Member] \| Equity securities
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities				0
Reinsurance Settlements [Member]
Purchases of:
Transfer to Investments			$ 36	$ 36

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

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This element represents the undistributed income (or loss) of equity method investments, net of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations; such investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

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The change in funds held under reinsurance agreements or treaty (contract between the reinsurer and the ceding entity stipulating the manner in which insurance written on various risks is to be shared).

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The increase (decrease) in insurance liability balances during the period.

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Amount of cash outflow to acquire investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

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The cash outflow associated with the purchase of all investments (debt, security, other) during the period.

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Amount of cash outflow for purchase of marketable security.

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The cash outflow from the purchase of receivables arising from the mortgage note on real estate.

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The cash outflow for securities or other assets acquired, which qualify for treatment as an investing activity and are to be liquidated, if necessary, within the current operating cycle. Includes cash flows from securities classified as trading securities that were acquired for reasons other than sale in the short-term.

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The cash inflow from an insurance contract under which the policy holder make a lump sum payment or a series of payments in exchange for periodic payments to the policyholder beginning immediately or at some future date.

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The cash inflow associated with the aggregate amount received by the entity through sale or maturity of marketable securities (held-to-maturity or available-for-sale) during the period.

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The cash inflow associated with the sale, maturity and collection of all investments such as debt, security and so forth during the period.

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The cash outflow for an insurance contract under which the policy holder make a lump sum payment or a series of payments in exchange for periodic payments to the policyholder beginning immediately or at some future date.

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Value of investments transferred to the entity's investments in noncash transactions.

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