Fair Value (Carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instrument assets and liabilities which are not measured at fair value) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	$ 23	$ 22
Mortgage loans	281	234
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Short term debt	83	83
Long term debt	2,526	2,525
Carrying Amount [Member]
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	23	22
Mortgage loans	281	234
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Premium deposits and annuity contracts	108	109
Short term debt	83	83
Long term debt	2,526	2,525
Estimate Fair Value [Member]
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	23	22
Mortgage loans	295	247
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Premium deposits and annuity contracts	112	114
Short term debt	84	84
Long term debt	2,794	2,679
Estimate Fair Value [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock
Mortgage loans
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Premium deposits and annuity contracts
Short term debt
Long term debt
Estimate Fair Value [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock
Mortgage loans
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Premium deposits and annuity contracts
Short term debt	84
Long term debt	2,794
Estimate Fair Value [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Financial Assets [Abstract]
Notes receivable for the issuance of common stock	23
Mortgage loans	295
Financial Liabilities [Abstract]
Premium deposits and annuity contracts	112
Short term debt
Long term debt

Premium deposits and annuity contracts

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- Definition

Total of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt, which may include notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans, and commercial paper, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

The balance represents the amount of loans that are secured by real estate mortgages, offset by the reserve to cover probable credit losses on the loan portfolio.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 60

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph c

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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- Definition

Amounts receivable from officers and directors resulting from the sale of stock to officers or directors before the cash payment is received.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29,30)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 4

-Section E

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 4.E)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6228006&loc=d3e74512-122707

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