SCHEDULE III - CONSOLIDATED SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 6,667	$ 6,776	$ 7,414
Future Contract Benefits	19,780	19,813	17,527
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	72,218	69,466	66,407
Insurance Premiums	2,462	2,294	2,176
Net Investment Income	4,698	4,652	4,541
Benefits and Interest Credited	6,008	5,833	5,815
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	1,029	846	905
Other Operating Expenses	2,917	2,716	2,556
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Impairment of intangibles	0	747	0
Annuities Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	2,092	1,912	1,882
Future Contract Benefits	2,339	3,642	1,707
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	21,108	20,701	20,135
Insurance Premiums	98	74	53
Net Investment Income	1,082	1,106	1,119
Benefits and Interest Credited	868	933	884
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	325	351	360
Other Operating Expenses	1,018	933	828
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Retirement Plan Services Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	102	183	195
Future Contract Benefits	3	7	2
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	14,712	13,624	12,773
Insurance Premiums	0	0	0
Net Investment Income	799	792	769
Benefits and Interest Credited	451	439	440
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	42	33	54
Other Operating Expenses	363	319	283
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Life Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	4,281	4,516	5,186
Future Contract Benefits	9,177	7,984	7,606
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	35,365	34,066	32,396
Insurance Premiums	441	441	439
Net Investment Income	2,396	2,294	2,186
Benefits and Interest Credited	2,982	2,904	2,933
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	614	423	451
Other Operating Expenses	619	578	531
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Group Protection Segment [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	192	165	151
Future Contract Benefits	1,882	1,742	1,620
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	223	236	256
Insurance Premiums	1,919	1,778	1,682
Net Investment Income	162	152	141
Benefits and Interest Credited	1,447	1,317	1,299
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	48	39	40
Other Operating Expenses	485	433	388
Premiums Written	0	0	0
Other Operations [Member]
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	0	0	0
Future Contract Benefits	6,379	6,438	6,592
Unearned Premiums	0	0	0
Other Contract Holder Funds	810	839	847
Insurance Premiums	4	1	2
Net Investment Income	259	308	326
Benefits and Interest Credited	260	240	259
Total Amortization of DAC and VOBA, net of interest	0	0	0
Other Operating Expenses	432	453	526
Premiums Written	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0