Federal Income Taxes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income tax expense (benefit), continuing operations [Abstract]
Current	$ 16	$ (138)	$ (751)
Deferred	281	421	645
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	297	283	(106)
Reconciliation of effective tax rate differences [Abstract]
Tax rate times pre-tax income	210	432	(182)
Effect of:
Tax-preferred investment income	(122)	(105)	(92)
Tax credits	(42)	(42)	(46)
Goodwill	261	0	238
Prior year tax return adjustment	(28)	(12)	(60)
Other items	18	10	36
Federal income tax expense (benefit)	297	283	(106)
Effective tax rate	50.00%	23.00%	20.00%
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	599	1,234	(521)
Dividends-received deduction	112	94	77
Federal income tax asset (liability) [Abstract]
Current	(241)	(182)
Deferred	(2,432)	(1,221)
Total federal income tax asset (liability)	(2,673)	(1,403)
Deferred Tax Assets
Future contract benefits and other contract holder funds	909	1,400
Deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance	122	160
Reinsurance related embedded derivative asset	59	22
Investments	489	401
Compensation and benefit plans	304	272
Net operating loss	23	0
Net capital loss	59	97
Other	202	108
Deferred tax asssets tax credits	208	105
Deferred tax assets VIEs	98	77
Total deferred tax assets	2,473	2,642
Deferred Tax Liabilities
DAC	1,823	1,977
VOBA	370	483
Net unrealized gain on trading securities	131	90
Intangibles	160	165
Net unrealized gain on AFS securities	2,259	1,014
Other	162	134
Total deferred tax liabilities	4,905	3,863
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	(2,432)	(1,221)
Unrecognized tax benefits [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits, that, if recognized, would impact income tax expense and effective tax rate	234	223
Anticipated change in unrecognized tax benefit (low end of range)	0
Anticipated change in unrecognized tax benefit (high end of range)	131
Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	318	336
Increases for prior year tax positions	2	2
Decreases for prior year tax positions	(10)	(7)
Increases for current year tax positions	12	9
Decreases for current year tax positions	(6)	(8)
Decreases for settlements with taxing authorities	0	(10)
Decreases for lapse of statute of limitations	0	(4)
Balance as of end-of-year	316	318	336
Recognized interest and penalty expense related to uncertain tax positions	10	7	12
Accrued interest and penalty expense related to unrecognized tax benefits	103	93
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Other Tax Carryforward, Gross Amount	66
Other Tax Carryforward, Expiration Dates	2031
2014 [Member]
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Other Tax Carryforward, Gross Amount	93
Other Tax Carryforward, Expiration Dates	2014
2015 [Member]
Other Tax Carryforward [Line Items]
Other Tax Carryforward, Gross Amount	$ 77
Other Tax Carryforward, Expiration Dates	2015