Subsequent Event - Reinsurance of GMDB and GMIB Business	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 25 ― Subsequent Event - Reinsurance of GMDB and GMIB Business Effective February 4, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska (Berkshire) to reinsure the GMDB and GMIB businesses. Berkshire will reinsure 100% of the Company's future claim payments, net of retrocessional arrangements in place prior to February 4, 2013, for a reinsurance premium of $2.2 billion. The reinsurance agreement is subject to an overall limit of approximately $3.8 billion plus future premiums collected under the contracts being reinsured that will be paid to Berkshire. The Company estimates that these future premium amounts will be from $0.1 to $0.3 billion and, accordingly, expects future claims of approximately $4 billion to be covered by the agreement. This reinsurance premium will be recorded in the first quarter of 2013 resulting in an after-tax impact to shareholders' net income of approximately $500 million. Premium of $725 million was paid on February 4, 2013 with the remainder to be paid by April 30, 2013. This premium will ultimately be funded from the sale or internal transfer of investment assets that were supporting this book of business, as well as tax benefits related to the transaction, and cash.

Subsequent Event - Reinsurance of GMDB and GMIB Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Note 25 ― Subsequent Event - Reinsurance of GMDB and GMIB Business

Effective February 4, 2013, the Company entered into an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska (Berkshire) to reinsure the GMDB and GMIB businesses. Berkshire will reinsure 100% of the Company's future claim payments, net of retrocessional arrangements in place prior to February 4, 2013, for a reinsurance premium of $2.2 billion. The reinsurance agreement is subject to an overall limit of approximately $3.8 billion plus future premiums collected under the contracts being reinsured that will be paid to Berkshire. The Company estimates that these future premium amounts will be from $0.1 to $0.3 billion and, accordingly, expects future claims of approximately $4 billion to be covered by the agreement.

This reinsurance premium will be recorded in the first quarter of 2013 resulting in an after-tax impact to shareholders' net income of approximately $500 million. Premium of $725 million was paid on February 4, 2013 with the remainder to be paid by April 30, 2013. This premium will ultimately be funded from the sale or internal transfer of investment assets that were supporting this book of business, as well as tax benefits related to the transaction, and cash.