FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Fair Value Inputs Assets Quantitative Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 70,281		$ 61,038
Asset derivatives	541		488
Assets, fair value	77,489		64,532
Length of Volatility of Japanese Yen to US Dollar Exchange Rate	10 years		10 years
Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	273		447
Asset derivatives	98		106
Assets, fair value	371		553
Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	67,232		58,070
Fixed Maturities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	270		392
Perpetual securities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3,026		2,947
Perpetual securities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0		52
Equity securities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	23		21
Equity securities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3		3
Equity securities | Net Asset Value Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3		3
Equity securities | Net Asset Value Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3		3
Equity securities | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes	$ 1		$ 1
Equity securities | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes	$ 746		$ 774
Equity securities | Assets | Weighted Average | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes	$ 7		$ 7
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	637		771
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	245		369
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities | Consensus Pricing Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	245		369
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities | Consensus Pricing Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	245		369
Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	6,841		6,509
Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	25		23
Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities | Consensus Pricing Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	25		23
Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities | Consensus Pricing Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	25		23
Banks/financial Institutions | Perpetual securities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	2,779		2,738
Banks/financial Institutions | Perpetual securities | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	0		52
Banks/financial Institutions | Perpetual securities | Consensus Pricing Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities			52
Foreign currency swaps
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives	519		445
Foreign currency swaps | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives	98		104
Credit default swaps
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Credit default swaps | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Credit default swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			0.65%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			65.00%	[1]
Credit default swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			1.06%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			76.00%	[1]
Credit default swaps | Assets | Weighted Average | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			0.92%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			72.00%	[1]
Fair Value Inputs, Recovery Rate			37.00%
Interest rate swaps
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Interest rate swaps | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Interest rate swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			0.65%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			65.00%	[1]
Interest rate swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			1.06%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			76.00%	[1]
Interest rate swaps | Assets | Weighted Average | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk			0.92%
Fair Value Inputs, Base Correlation			72.00%	[1]
Fair Value Inputs, Recovery Rate			37.00%
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives	19		30
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Foreign Exchange Rates	20.34%	[2]	21.16%	[2]
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	0.18%		0.16%
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	1.18%		1.41%
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives	1		9
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	0.28%		0.17%
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Entity Credit Risk	1.45%		1.49%
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives	78		65
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Foreign Exchange Rates	20.34%	[2]	21.16%	[2]
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Base Correlation, CDS Spreads, Recovery Rate | Credit default swaps | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Base Correlation, CDS Spreads, Recovery Rate | Interest rate swaps | Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Technique | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Asset derivatives			1
Dollar-denominated | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	37,816		32,072
Dollar-denominated | Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	206		184
Dollar-denominated | Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3,719		3,732
Dollar-denominated | Banks/financial Institutions | Perpetual securities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	177		222
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	2.64%	[3]	3.09%	[3]
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	3.21%	[3]	3.96%	[3]
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	2.64%	[3]	3.09%	[3]
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	3.21%	[3]	3.96%	[3]
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	2.64%	[3]	3.09%	[3]
Dollar-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	3.21%	[3]	3.96%	[3]
Yen-denominated | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	29,416		25,998
Yen-denominated | Mortgage- and asset-backed securities | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	431		587
Yen-denominated | Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	3,122		2,777
Yen-denominated | Banks/financial Institutions | Perpetual securities
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities	$ 2,602		$ 2,516
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	0.65%	[4]	0.93%	[4]
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), CDS Spreads and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	1.79%	[4]	2.02%	[4]
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	0.65%	[4]	0.93%	[4]
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), Interest Rates (JPY), and CDS Spread | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	1.79%	[4]	2.02%	[4]
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Lower Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	0.65%	[4]	0.93%	[4]
Yen-denominated | Fair Value, Unobservable Input, Interest Rates (USD), interest rates (JPY), and Foreign Exchange Rates | Foreign currency swaps | Assets | Upper Limit | Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	1.79%	[4]	2.02%	[4]

[1] Weighted-average range of base correlations for our bespoke tranches for attachment and detachment points corresponding to market indices

[2] Based on 10 year volatility of JPY/USD exchange rate

[3] Inputs derived from U.S. long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of our swaps

[4] Inputs derived from Japan long-term rates to accommodate long maturity nature of our swaps