Available for sale Fixed Maturity and Perpetual Securities, Fair Value

No definition available.

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- Definition

Discounted Cash Flow Pricing Model, Assumptions, Magnitude of Movement

+ References

No definition available.

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- Details

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- Definition

Percentage of fair value of investments using Discounted Cash Flow pricing model

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of Fair Value of Investments Using Other Pricing Services

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of fair value of investments valued by obtaining quoted market prices from investment custodian

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of Holdings of Investments Using Discounted Cash Flow Pricing Model

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of Holdings of Investments Using Other Pricing Services

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage of Holdings Valued by Obtaining Quoted Market Prices from Investment Custodian

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt securities as of the balance sheet date and which are categorized as held-to-maturity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-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 FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 137

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27232-111563

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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	$ 0		$ 0
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount	0		0
Securities held to maturity, fixed maturities, fair value	61,257,000,000	46,383,000,000
Interest Rates
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Magnitude of movement	0.50%
Credit Spreads
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Magnitude of movement	0.50%
Interest Rate Volatility
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Magnitude of movement	50.00%
Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair values of available-for-sale fixed maturity and perpetual securities valued by our DCF pricing model	19,100,000,000
Securities held to maturity, fixed maturities, fair value	$ 24,100,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities \| Level 2
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of fair value of investments valued by obtaining quoted market prices from investment custodian	55.00%
Percentage of holdings valued by obtaining quoted market prices from investment custodian	77.00%
Percentage of fair value of investments using DCF pricing model	39.00%
Percentage of holdings of investments using discounted cash flow pricing model	9.00%
Percentage of fair value of investments using other pricing services	6.00%
Percentage of holdings of investments using other pricing services	14.00%
Held-to-maturity Securities \| Level 2
Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of fair value of investments valued by obtaining quoted market prices from investment custodian	3.00%
Percentage of holdings valued by obtaining quoted market prices from investment custodian	7.00%
Percentage of fair value of investments using DCF pricing model	94.00%
Percentage of holdings of investments using discounted cash flow pricing model	83.00%
Percentage of fair value of investments using other pricing services	3.00%
Percentage of holdings of investments using other pricing services	10.00%