Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings		$ 1,908	$ 1,803
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Change in receivables and advance premiums		41	98
Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs		(186)	(152)
Increase in policy liabilities		2,329	2,696
Change in income tax liabilities		(365)	(43)
Realized investment (gains) losses		260	(26)
Other, net		133	394	[1]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities		4,120	4,770
Securities available for sale:
Fixed maturities sold		978	1,829
Fixed maturities matured or called		774	705
Perpetual securities matured or called		234	394
Equity securities sold		173	1
Securities held to maturity:
Fixed maturities matured or called		946	678
Costs of investments acquired:
Available for sale fixed maturities acquired		(4,871)	(3,919)
Available for sale equity securities acquired		(868)	(67)
Other investments, net		(801)	(27)
Settlement of derivatives, net		1,203	(2,242)
Cash received (pledged or returned) as collateral, net		(350)	(1,404)
Other, net		(56)	(31)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities		(2,638)	(4,083)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of treasury stock		(1,222)	(1,081)
Proceeds from borrowings		988	998
Principal payments under debt obligations		(232)	(1,272)
Dividends paid to shareholders		(492)	(489)
Change in investment-type contracts, net		117	213
Treasury stock reissued		37	28
Other, net		(31)	(223)	[1]
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities		(835)	(1,826)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		273	1
Net change in cash and cash equivalents		920	(1,138)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		4,350	4,658
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		5,270	3,520
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid		1,594	996
Interest paid		155	188
Noncash interest		41	36
Impairment losses included in realized investment losses	[2]	69	143
Capital lease obligations incurred		2	2
Associate stock bonus
Treasury stock issued for:
Treasury stock issued		24	26
Shareholder dividend reinvestment
Treasury stock issued for:
Treasury stock issued		19	19
Share-based compensation grants
Treasury stock issued for:
Treasury stock issued		$ 4	4
8.50% senior notes due May 2019
Extinguishment of debt, make-whole premium			$ 230

[1] Operating activities excludes and financing activities includes a cash outflow of $230 for the make-whole payment associated with the early extinguishment of debt

[2] Includes $22 and $6 for the three-month periods and $69 and $12 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, from change in intent to sell securities or change in intent to hold securities until recovery; and $131 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, for credit-related impairments