Reinsurance (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Ceded Premiums And Fees [Abstract]
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	$ 50,000,000	$ 47,000,000	$ 146,000,000	$ 142,000,000
Other	62,000,000	52,000,000	179,000,000	181,000,000
Total	112,000,000	99,000,000	325,000,000	323,000,000
Reinsurance Recoveries [Abstract]
Individual life insurance and annuity business sold	67,000,000	87,000,000	219,000,000	235,000,000
Other	64,000,000	45,000,000	157,000,000	138,000,000
Total	131,000,000	132,000,000	376,000,000	373,000,000
Reinsurance Text Details [Abstract]
Reinsurance Recoverable Retirement Benefits Business	1,500,000,000		1,500,000,000			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	0		0		3,800,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverable Individual Life And Annuity Reinsurance Unsecured	4,200,000,000		4,200,000,000
Ceded Reinsurance Recoverable Ongoing Operations	269,000,000		269,000,000
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	271,000,000		271,000,000
Reserve Held For Reinsurance Recoverable Run Off Reinsurance	$ 1,000,000		$ 1,000,000
Percentage Of Reinsurance Recoverables Runoff Reinsurance Secured	90.00%		90.00%