Reinsurance (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Ceded Premiums And Fees [Abstract]
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$ 49,000,000	$ 49,000,000	$ 96,000,000	$ 95,000,000
Other	59,000,000	65,000,000	117,000,000	129,000,000
Total	108,000,000	114,000,000	213,000,000	224,000,000
Reinsurance Recoveries [Abstract]
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	87,000,000	81,000,000	152,000,000	148,000,000
Other	46,000,000	49,000,000	93,000,000	93,000,000
Total	133,000,000	130,000,000	245,000,000	241,000,000
Reinsurance Text Details [Abstract]
Reinsurance Recoverable Retirement Benefits Business	1,600,000,000		1,600,000,000		1,700,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverable Individual Life And Annuity Reinsurance	4,200,000,000		4,200,000,000		4,300,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverable Individual Life And Annuity Reinsurance Secured	3,800,000,000		3,800,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverable Individual Life And Annuity Reinsurance Unsecured	392,000,000		392,000,000
Ceded Reinsurance Recoverable Ongoing Operations	270,000,000		270,000,000
Number Of Reinsurers Ongoing Operations	60		60
Reserve Held For Ceded Reinsurance Recoverable Ongoing Operations	7,000,000		7,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverable Run Off Reinsurance	257,000,000		257,000,000
Reserve Held For Reinsurance Recoverable Run Off Reinsurance	$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Percentage Of Reinsurance Recoverables Runoff Reinsurance Secured	94.00%		94.00%