SCHEDULE III - CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 8,191	$ 8,930	$ 9,510
Future Contract Benefits	19,813	17,527	17,145
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	69,466	66,407	62,964
Insurance Premiums	2,294	2,176	2,064
Net Investment Income	4,652	4,541	4,178
Benefits and Interest Credited	5,833	5,815	5,299
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	1,050	1,084	1,053
Other Operating Expenses	2,407	2,274	1,938
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Impairment of intangibles	747	0	730
Annuities Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	2,318	2,250	2,381
Future Contract Benefits	3,642	1,707	1,991
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	20,701	20,135	19,014
Insurance Premiums	74	53	89
Net Investment Income	1,106	1,119	1,037
Benefits and Interest Credited	934	884	783
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	405	421	360
Other Operating Expenses	841	749	632
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Retirement Plan Services Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	331	360	538
Future Contract Benefits	7	2	3
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	13,624	12,773	12,240
Insurance Premiums	0	0	0
Net Investment Income	793	769	732
Benefits and Interest Credited	439	440	433
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	60	79	75
Other Operating Expenses	284	253	227
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Life Insurance Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	5,348	6,145	6,432
Future Contract Benefits	7,984	7,606	7,108
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	34,066	32,386	30,616
Insurance Premiums	441	439	392
Net Investment Income	2,294	2,186	1,975
Benefits and Interest Credited	2,904	2,933	2,558
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	539	538	571
Other Operating Expenses	409	370	352
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Group Protection Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	194	175	159
Future Contract Benefits	1,742	1,620	1,459
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	236	256	181
Insurance Premiums	1,778	1,682	1,579
Net Investment Income	152	141	127
Benefits and Interest Credited	1,317	1,300	1,120
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	46	46	47
Other Operating Expenses	420	376	355
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Other Operations [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	0	0	0
Future Contract Benefits	6,438	6,592	6,584
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	839	857	913
Insurance Premiums	1	2	4
Net Investment Income	307	326	307
Benefits and Interest Credited	239	258	405
Amortization of DAC and VOBA	0	0	0
Other Operating Expenses	453	526	372
Premiums Written	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0