Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Policy acquisition costs deferred	$ (173)	$ (122)
Purchases of:
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements	208	108
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements	888	91
Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired	231	82
Net investments (income) loss	25	(29)
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)	(944)	209
Accrued investment income	(69)	(27)
Policy acquisition costs deferred	(173)	(122)
Interest sensitive contract liabilities	1,403	(189)
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable	653	333
Funds withheld assets and liabilities	(1,011)	(7)
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2019 – $50 and 2018 – $57)	2,231	3,017
Trading securities	31	24
Investment funds	131	83
Derivative instruments and other invested assets	256	551
Short-term investments	104	103
Purchases of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2019 – $(280) and 2018 – $(158))	(4,470)	(5,907)
Mortgage loans	(1,049)	(463)
Trading securities	(284)	(25)
Investment funds	(185)	(213)
Derivative instruments and other invested assets	(287)	(224)
Short-term investments	(67)	(209)
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts	2,793	1,774
Repayments of Annuities and Investment Certificates	(1,638)	(1,474)
Payments for coinsurance agreements on investment-type contracts, net	(25)	(10)
Variable Interest Entities
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)	(6)	(6)
Purchases of:
Sales, maturities, and repayments of investments	53	59
Related Party \| Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Net investments (income) loss	18	(43)
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)	0	(24)
Accrued investment income	3	0
Interest sensitive contract liabilities	167	0
Future policy benefits, other policy claims and benefits, dividends payable to policyholders and reinsurance recoverable	95	0
Funds withheld assets and liabilities	(500)	0
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2019 – $50 and 2018 – $57)	50	57
Trading securities	0	1
Investment funds	87	52
Purchases of:
Available-for-sale securities (related party: 2019 – $(280) and 2018 – $(158))	(280)	(158)
Trading securities	(3)
Investment funds	(152)	(182)
Short-term investments	0	(72)
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts	101	0
Repayments of Annuities and Investment Certificates	(106)	0
Deposits on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements	45	0
Withdrawals on investment-type policies and contracts through reinsurance agreements	429	0
Related Party \| Variable Interest Entities
Net recognized (gains) losses on investments and derivatives (related party: 2018 – $0 and 2017 – $10)	(5)	(6)
Purchases of:
Sales, maturities, and repayments of investments	51	59
Equity securities \| Consolidated Entity Excluding Variable Interest Entities (VIE)
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Equity securities	10	2
Purchases of:
Equity securities	(205)	(9)
Reinsurance Settlements [Member]
Purchases of:
Transfer to Investments	$ 12	$ 0

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Increase (Decrease) in Interest Sensitive Contract Liabilities

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Payments for Coinsurance Agreement Contracts, Investment-Type

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Payments to Acquire Investment Funds

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Proceeds from Investment Funds

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Reinsurance Agreements, Deposits on Investment Policies and Contracts

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Reinsurance Agreements, Withdrawals on Investment Policies and Contracts

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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 increase (decrease) during the reporting period in investment income that has been earned but not yet received in cash.

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The cash outflow for derivative instruments during the period, which are classified as investing activities, excluding those designated as hedging instruments.

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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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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 outflow to acquire securities classified as trading securities and held for investment purposes. Excludes payments for trading securities purchased and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term (thus held for only a short period of time).

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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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Amount of cash inflow from sale, maturity, prepayment and call of 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 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, maturities, repayments and calls of securities classified as trading securities and held for investment purposes. Excludes proceeds from trading securities purchased and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term (thus held for only a short period of time).

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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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