DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS AND INSURANCE EXPENSES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

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.

	2021						2020
(In millions)	Japan			U.S.			Japan			U.S.
Deferred policy acquisition costs:
Balance, beginning of year		$	6,991		$	3,450		$	6,584		$	3,544
Capitalization		593			470			665			486
Amortization		(653)			(517)			(644)			(570)
Foreign currency translation and other		(698)			(111)			386			(10)
Balance, end of year		$	6,233		$	3,292		$	6,991		$	3,450

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)	2021			2020			2019
Advertising expense:
Aflac Japan		$	91		$	72		$	101
Aflac U.S.		138			112			118
Total advertising expense		$	229		$	184		$	219

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)	2021			2020			2019
Depreciation expense		$	39		$	36		$	40
Other amortization expense		6			5			1
Total depreciation and other amortization expense		$	45		$	41		$	41