INVESTMENTS (Details 7) (Fixed maturity securities, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Fixed maturity securities
Other Than Temporary Impairment Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 6,464	$ 6,540	$ 6,504	$ 6,786
Increases due to:
Credit impairments on new securities subject to impairment losses	35	33	172	85
Additional credit impairments on previously impaired securities	69	85	376	235
Reduction due to:
Credit impaired securities fully disposed for which there was no prior intent or requirement to sell	(248)	(155)	(518)	(325)
Accretion on securities previously impaired due to credit	(231)	(107)	(453)	(207)
Hybrid securities with embedded credit derivatives reclassified to Bond trading securities				(179)
Other	1		9	1
Balance at the end of the period	$ 6,090	$ 6,396	$ 6,090	$ 6,396

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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