The approximate amount the entity expects to spend per year under the long-term purchase commitment.

No definition available.

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For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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- Definition

Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Specifies the time period covered by the arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of insurance-related assessment liability that is expected to be recovered through a premium tax offset based on current laws applied to in-force policies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

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- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

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-Subparagraph (b)

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within one year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

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- Definition

For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fifth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

+ References

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the fourth year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the third year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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For leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year, required rental payments due within the second year of the balance sheet date relating to leases defined as operating.

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- Definition

A description of the terms of the lease(s) related to the assets being leased-back in connection with the transaction involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-SubTopic 40

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-Paragraph 1

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Contingencies and Commitments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Leases [Abstract]
Sale-leaseback agreements, terms	Certain subsidiaries of ours lease their home office properties. In 2006, we exercised the right and option to extend the Fort Wayne lease for two extended terms such that the lease shall expire in 2019. We retain our right and option to exercise the remaining four extended terms of five years each in accordance with the lease agreement. These agreements also provide us with the right of first refusal to purchase the properties at a price defined in the agreements and the option to purchase the leased properties at fair market value on the last day of any renewal period. In 2012, we exercised the right and option to extend the Hartford lease for one extended term such that the lease shall expire in 2018. During 2007, we moved our corporate headquarters to Radnor, Pennsylvania from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and entered into a new 13-year lease for office space.
Rental expense on operating leases [Abstract]
Total rental expense on operating leases	$ 43	$ 42	$ 46
Future minimum rental commitments [Abstract]
2013	41
2014	41
2015	36
2016	32
2017	27
Other Contingency Matters [Abstract]
Loss contingency accrual, insurance-related assessment, premium tax offset	34	31
Pending or Threatened Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingency, Estimate [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum	200
Variable Annuity Deposits Total [Member] \| Variable Annuity Product Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	19.00%	22.00%	25.00%
Variable Annuity Deposits Total [Member] \| Fund Choice Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	21.00%	27.00%	29.00%
Percentage Of Product Account Values [Member] \| Variable Annuity Product Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	50.00%	54.00%	58.00%
Percentage Of Product Account Values [Member] \| Fund Choice Concentration Risk [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	58.00%	62.00%	66.00%
Football Stadium Naming Rights Commitment [Member]
Long-term purchase commitment [Line Items]
Amount of commitment, total	140
Time period of commitment	20 years
Approximate Amount Of Commitment Per Year	$ 7