DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

The following table presents a rollforward of deferred policy acquisition costs by segment for the years ended December 31.

	2020						2019
(In millions)	Japan			U.S.			Japan			U.S.
Deferred policy acquisition costs:
Balance, beginning of year		$	6,584		$	3,544		$	6,384		$	3,491
Capitalization		665			486			825			626
Amortization		(644)			(570)			(709)			(573)
Foreign currency translation and other		386			(10)			84			0
Balance, end of year		$	6,991		$	3,450		$	6,584		$	3,544

Advertising Expense

Advertising expense, which is included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, was as follows for the years ended December 31:

(In millions)	2020			2019			2018
Advertising expense:
Aflac Japan		$	72		$	101		$	108
Aflac U.S.		112			118			110
Total advertising expense		$	184		$	219		$	218

Schedule Of Depreciation And Amortization Expense

Depreciation and other amortization expenses, which are included in insurance expenses in the consolidated statements of earnings, were as follows for the years ended December 31:

(In millions)	2020			2019			2018
Depreciation expense		$	36		$	40		$	48
Other amortization expense		5			1			1
Total depreciation and other amortization expense		$	41		$	41		$	49