Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			36 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Specifically identifiable intangible assets [Abstract]
Useful life of sales force intangible assets (in years)									25
Future contract benefits and other contract holder funds [Abstract]
Investment yield assumptions for traditional direct individual life reserves, low end									2.25%
Investment yield assumptions for traditional direct individual life reserves, high end									7.75%
Investment yield assumptions for immediate and deferred paid-up annuities, low end									1.00%
Investment yield assumptions for immediate and deferred paid-up annuities, high end									13.50%
Deferred gain on business sold through reinsurance [Abstract]
Period over which the gain is recognized (in years)									15
Interest credited [Abstract]
Interest crediting rate, low end												1.00%
Interest crediting rate, high end												9.00%
Participating policies [Abstract]
Participating policies as a percentage of the face amount of insurance in force	1.00%				1.00%				1.00%	1.00%		1.00%
Dividend expenses									$ 71	$ 79	$ 82
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired	6,667				6,776				6,667	6,776	7,414	6,667
Total assets	218,869				201,491				218,869	201,491		218,869
Other liabilities	5,139				4,410				5,139	4,410		5,139
Total liabilities	203,896				188,390				203,896	188,390		203,896
Retained earnings	4,044				2,831				4,044	2,831		4,044
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	3,808				2,680				3,808	2,680		3,808
Total stockholders' equity	14,973				13,101				14,973	13,101	11,686	14,973
Realized gain (loss)									(74)	294	69
Total revenues	2,964	2,954	2,899	2,715	2,569	2,547	2,807	2,718	11,532	10,641	10,415
Commissions and other expenses									3,683	3,264	3,174
Total expenses	2,564	2,536	2,457	2,407	3,058	2,393	2,399	2,288	9,964	10,138	9,280
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes									1,568	503	1,135
Federal income tax expense (benefit)									282	274	262
Income (loss) from continuing operations	320	400	322	244	(541)	158	301	311	1,286	229	873
Net income (loss)	320	428	322	243	(541)	150	301	311	1,313	221	902
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, basic	$ 1.17	$ 1.44	$ 1.14	$ 0.84	$ (1.82)	$ 0.52	$ 0.97	$ 0.99	$ 4.58	$ 0.75	$ 2.28
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, diluted	$ 1.14	$ 1.41	$ 1.09	$ 0.82	$ (1.82)	$ 0.49	$ 0.94	$ 0.96	$ 4.47	$ 0.72	$ 2.21
Net income (loss) per common share, basic	$ 1.17	$ 1.54	$ 1.14	$ 0.84	$ (1.82)	$ 0.49	$ 0.97	$ 0.99	$ 4.68	$ 0.72	$ 2.37
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted	$ 1.14	$ 1.51	$ 1.09	$ 0.82	$ (1.82)	$ 0.46	$ 0.94	$ 0.96	$ 4.56	$ 0.69	$ 2.30
Change in federal income tax accruals									192	318	394
Tax Restatement [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired					0					0
Total assets					0					0
Other liabilities					138					138
Total liabilities					138					138
Retained earnings					(138)					(138)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)					0					0
Total stockholders' equity					(138)					(138)
Realized gain (loss)										0	0
Total revenues										0	0
Commissions and other expenses										0	0
Total expenses										0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes										0	0
Federal income tax expense (benefit)										11	14
Income (loss) from continuing operations										(11)	(14)
Net income (loss)										(11)	(14)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, basic										$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, diluted										$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)
Net income (loss) per common share, basic										$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted										$ (0.03)	$ (0.05)
Accounting Standards Update 2010-26 [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired					(1,415)					(1,415)
Total assets					(1,415)					(1,415)
Other liabilities					(490)					(490)
Total liabilities					(490)					(490)
Retained earnings					(1,157)					(1,157)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)					232					232
Total stockholders' equity					(925)					(925)
Realized gain (loss)										5	8
Total revenues										5	8
Commissions and other expenses										101	107
Total expenses										101	107
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes										(96)	(99)
Federal income tax expense (benefit)										(34)	(35)
Income (loss) from continuing operations										(62)	(64)
Net income (loss)										(62)	(64)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, basic										$ (0.21)	$ (0.20)
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, diluted										$ (0.20)	$ (0.19)
Net income (loss) per common share, basic										$ (0.21)	$ (0.20)
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted										$ (0.20)	$ (0.19)
Change in federal income tax accruals										11	14
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Deferred acquisition costs and value of business acquired					8,191					8,191
Total assets					202,906					202,906
Other liabilities					4,762					4,762
Total liabilities					188,742					188,742
Retained earnings					4,126					4,126
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)					2,448					2,448
Total stockholders' equity					14,164					14,164
Realized gain (loss)										(299)	(77)
Total revenues										10,636	10,407
Commissions and other expenses										3,163	3,067
Total expenses										10,037	9,173
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes										599	1,234
Federal income tax expense (benefit)										297	283
Income (loss) from continuing operations										302	951
Net income (loss)										$ 294	$ 980
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, basic										$ 0.99	$ 2.53
Income (loss) from continuing operations per common share, diluted										$ 0.95	$ 2.45
Net income (loss) per common share, basic										$ 0.96	$ 2.62
Net income (loss) per common share, diluted										$ 0.92	$ 2.54