SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			2
Total revenues	$ 12,822	$ 16,697	$ 44,496	$ 48,996
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(115)	3,019	6,213	9,772
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(346)	(742)	(756)	(1,014)
Net realized capital gains (losses)	(342)	536	1,125	546
Revenues and pre-tax income	(115)	3,019	6,213	9,772
Reportable Segments | Commercial Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	6,559	7,313	21,069	21,665
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	815	1,240	3,777	4,286
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	815	1,240	3,777	4,286
Reportable Segments | Commercial Insurance | Operating Segments | Property Casualty
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	5,715	6,425	17,904	18,868
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	569	952	2,931	3,313
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	569	952	2,931	3,313
Reportable Segments | Commercial Insurance | Operating Segments | Mortgage Guaranty
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	266	262	791	769
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	162	135	464	421
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	162	135	464	421
Reportable Segments | Commercial Insurance | Operating Segments | Institutional Markets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	578	626	2,374	2,028
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	84	153	382	552
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	84	153	382	552
Reportable Segments | Consumer Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	6,652	7,210	20,481	21,468
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	657	1,264	2,625	3,551
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	657	1,264	2,625	3,551
Reportable Segments | Consumer Insurance | Operating Segments | Retirement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,203	2,472	7,056	7,367
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	635	1,094	2,239	2,773
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	635	1,094	2,239	2,773
Reportable Segments | Consumer Insurance | Operating Segments | Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	1,578	1,575	4,823	4,745
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(40)	50	280	500
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	(40)	50	280	500
Reportable Segments | Consumer Insurance | Operating Segments | Personal Insurance
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,871	3,163	8,602	9,356
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	62	120	106	278
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	62	120	106	278
Consolidation and Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(141)	(168)	(416)	(356)
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(11)	(68)	(80)	(42)
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	(11)	(68)	(80)	(42)
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	109	1,121	2,270	3,218
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	(613)	149	(79)	39
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	(613)	149	(79)	39
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	13,179	15,476	43,404	45,995
Pre-tax Income (loss) from continuing operations	848	2,585	6,243	7,834
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Revenues and pre-tax income	848	2,585	6,243	7,834
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income | Revenue
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of fixed maturity securities designated to hedge living benefit liabilities, net of interest expense	4	32	(39)	162
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains	0	0	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses)	(342)	536	1,125	546
Net gain (loss) on sale of divested businesses	0	0	(48)	1,602
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements	0	653	91	691
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business	0		0
Restructuring and other costs	0		0
Other	(19)		(37)
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income | Pre-Tax Operating Income (loss)
Reconciling items from Total revenues and Pre-tax operating income (loss) to revenues and pre-tax income:
Changes in fair values of fixed maturity securities designated to hedge living benefit liabilities, net of interest expense	4	32	(39)	162
Changes in benefit reserves and DAC, VOBA and SIA related to net realized capital gains	(2)	(45)	(84)	(90)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(346)	(742)	(756)	(1,014)
Net realized capital gains (losses)	(342)	536	1,125	546
Net gain (loss) on sale of divested businesses	(3)	17	(58)	2,189
Non-operating litigation reserves and settlements	30	$ 636	86	$ 145
Reserve development related to non-operating run-off insurance business	(30)		(30)
Restructuring and other costs	(274)		(274)
Other	$ 0		$ 0