Name:	aig_IncreaseInOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeldAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to divested businesses.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsDivestedBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents an increase or (decrease) to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security for other reasons not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsOther
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents one of the criteria for considering impairment of securities, the period of time at which a security has traded at a discount.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCriteriaMinimumExtendedPeriodToCalculateDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents one of the criteria for considering impairment of securities, the period over which securities have been in a continuous decline in a value below cost.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCriteriaMinimumPeriodOverWhichSecuritiesHaveBeenInContinuousDeclineInValueBelowCost
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The rapid and severe market valuation decline percentage discount criterion (or more) to cost by which a security is determined to be traded at a significant discount to cost for an extended period of time (nine consecutive months or longer) and, therefore, is considered a candidate for other-than-temporary impairment.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_RapidAndSeverePercentageOfDiscountToCost
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The percentage discount criterion (or more) to cost by which a security is determined to be traded at a significant discount to cost for an extended period of time (nine consecutive months or longer) and, therefore, is considered a candidate for other-than-temporary impairment.

No definition available.

Name:	aig_SignificantPercentageOfDiscountToCostTraded
Namespace Prefix:	aig_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=SL6284393-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8B
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=SL6284393-111563

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held due to increases in cash flows expected to be collected and recognized over the remaining life of the security.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsCashFlows
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents reductions in the amount of cumulative losses recognized in earnings for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) for which a portion of the impairment had been recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity) due to a change in status of the impaired security because of a change in the entity's intent to either sell the impaired security or it has become more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsChangeInStatus
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.