Shares and Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Reconciliation of the denominator (number of shares) in the calculations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share Table
Weighted-average shares, as used in basic calculation (in shares)	289,055,925	315,014,084
Shares to cover exercise of outstanding warrants (in shares)	10,150,271	10,150,292
Shares to cover conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	154,499	174,624
Shares to cover non-vested stock (in shares)	1,010,689	771,357
Average stock options outstanding during the period (in shares)	601,284	959,872
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds from exercising outstanding warrants (in shares)	(4,634,542)	(3,669,994)
Assumed acquisition of shares with assumed proceeds and benefits from exercising stock options (at average market price for the year) (in shares)	(413,777)	(654,934)
Shares repurchaseable from measured but unrecognized stock option expense (in shares)	(14,681)	(152,416)
Average deferred compensation shares (in shares)	0	271,447
Weighted-average shares, as used in diluted calculation (in shares)	295,909,668	322,864,332
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on AFS Securities [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	2,947	1,072
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	105
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period	(109)	(191)
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment	10	14
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds	76	104
Income tax benefit (expense)	(27)	63
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(57)	(19)
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	2	(10)
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	19	10
Balance as of end-of-period	2,933	1,186
Unrealized Other Than Temporary Impairment on Available For Sale Securities [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	(110)	(129)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	(5)
Increases attributable to: Gross OTTI recognized in OCI during the period	(58)	(8)
Increases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	8	5
Increases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)	18	1
Decreases attributable to: Sales, maturities or other settlements of AFS Securities	39	45
Decreases attributable to: Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	(4)	(9)
Decreases attributable to: Income tax benefit (expense)	(12)	(13)
Balance as of end-of-period	(119)	(113)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	119	(15)
Cumulative effect from adoption of new accounting standards	0	3
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during the period	(42)	(3)
Change in foreign currency exchange rate adjustment	(9)	(9)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and other contract holder funds	4	4
Income tax benefit (expense)	15	3
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(3)	3
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI, and DFEL	0	1
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	1	(1)
Change in DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	4	4
Income tax benefit (expense)	15	3
Less: Associated amortization of DAC, VOBA, DSI and DFEL	0	1
Less: Income tax benefit (expense)	1	(1)
Balance as of end-of-period	89	(20)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	1	1
Foreign currency translation adjustment arising during the period	(5)	2
Income tax benefit (expense)	2	(1)
Balance as of end-of-period	(2)	2
Funded Status of Employee Benefit Plans [Member]
Components and changes in accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-year	(278)	(181)
Adjustment arising during the period	(2)	(1)
Income tax benefit (expense)	1	0
Balance as of end-of-period	(279)	(182)
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Changes in preferred and common stock (number of shares) [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	10,072	10,914
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	(440)	0
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	9,632	10,914
Common stock [Member]
Changes in preferred and common stock (number of shares) [Line Items]
Balance as of beginning-of-period	291,319,222	315,718,554
Conversion of convertible preferred stock (in shares)	7,040	0
Stock compensation/issued for benefit plans (in shares)	104,197	152,134
Retirement/cancellation of shares (in shares)	(6,018,156)	(2,413,864)
Balance as of end-of-period (in shares)	285,412,303	313,456,824
Common stock as of end-of-year:
Assuming conversion of preferred stock (in shares)	285,566,415	313,631,448
Diluted basis (in shares)	292,953,914	321,320,873