SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Y	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Other assets
Prepaid commitment fee asset amortization period (in years)	5
Unamortized prepaid commitment fee asset		$ 3,600,000,000
Deferred advertising costs	78,000,000	200,000,000
Amortization of deferred advertising costs	34,000,000	40,000,000	173,000,000
Deferred bonus interest and deferred sales inducement assets	766,000,000	856,000,000
Amortization expense associated with deferred bonus interest and deferred sales inducement assets	201,000,000	194,000,000	215,000,000
Real estate and other fixed assets
Accumulated depreciation, real estate and other fixed assets	$ 3,800,000,000	$ 3,600,000,000
Buildings
Real estate and other fixed assets
Maximum estimated useful life (in years)	40
Furniture and equipment
Real estate and other fixed assets
Maximum estimated useful life (in years)	10
Software Development
Real estate and other fixed assets
Maximum estimated useful life (in years)	5