Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	$ 297	$ 308	$ 271
Charged to costs and expenses	49	(7)	58
Charge offs	(25)	(15)	(29)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	3
Other changes	1	11	5
Balance at the end of the year	322	297	308
Allowance for mortgage and other loans receivable | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change		0	0
Allowance for premiums and insurances balances receivable
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	262	333	431
Charged to costs and expenses	36	26	35
Charge offs	(58)	(88)	(120)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	(2)	0
Divested Business	(8)	(7)	0
Other changes	4	0	(13)
Balance at the end of the year	236	262	333
Allowance for reinsurance assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	207	272	258
Charged to costs and expenses	33	(23)	90
Charge offs	(50)	(34)	(67)
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	(8)	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	(3)	0	(9)
Balance at the end of the year	187	207	272
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Balance at the beginning of the year	2,831	3,012	1,739
Charged to costs and expenses	43	83	110
Charge offs	0	0	0
Reclassified to assets of businesses held-for-sale	0	0	0
Divested Business	0	0	0
Other changes	(1,500)	(264)	1,163
Balance at the end of the year	1,374	2,831	3,012
Federal and foreign valuation allowance for deferred tax assets | Segment Discontinued Operations
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Net change	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0