Schedule II (Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net income (loss)	$ (1,319)	$ 53	$ 634
Accrued investment income	34	1	102
Accrued interest payable	(11)	1	(3)
Current income taxes	86	501	(292)
Amortization of bond (premiums) discounts, net	(8)	(23)	(59)
Deferred income tax benefit	(935)	(221)	1,091
(Gains) losses on extinguishment of debt	(26)	(60)	(269)
Share-based compensation	13	2	6
Other operating	(26)	2	28
Total adjustments to net income (loss)	(1,657)	(1,309)	(2,826)
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(2,976)	(1,256)	(2,192)
Purchase of fixed-maturity securities	(7,744)	(9,967)	(10,422)
Sale and redemption of fixed-maturity securities	11,321	11,896	12,677
Sale (purchase) of short-term investments, net	680	662	2,011
Sale (purchase) of other investments, net	73	53	217
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements	(85)	17
Collateral (to) from swap counterparty			(101)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	4,295	5,011	4,976
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	184	31	317
Payments for retirement of debt	(65)	(393)	(55)
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements			46
Purchase of treasury stock	(50)	(31)	(16)
Restricted stock awards settlements	(2)	2	2
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,816)	(3,428)	(4,261)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(497)	327	(1,477)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,130	803	2,280
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	633	1,130	803
Income taxes paid (received), net	(74)	(414)	(209)
Interest paid, Investment agreements	33	92	133
Interest paid, Securities sold under agreement to repurchase	1	2	72
Interest paid, Long-term debt	193	199	204
Parent Company [Member]
Net income (loss)	(1,376)	(3)	618
Accrued investment income	2	2	45
Intercompany accounts receivable	(29)	155	(138)
Accrued interest payable	(5)	5	(41)
Current income taxes	124	56	(353)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	1,233	(99)	(892)
Dividends from subsidiaries	46	19	1,174
Amortization of bond (premiums) discounts, net	(23)	(23)	(52)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	33	59	351
Net (gains) losses on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	278	117	(102)
Other net realized (gains) losses	17	(1)	(4)
Deferred income tax benefit	(85)	(90)	321
(Gains) losses on extinguishment of debt		1	66
Share-based compensation	4	2	6
Other operating	6	(12)	(36)
Total adjustments to net income (loss)	1,632	191	345
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	256	188	963
Purchase of fixed-maturity securities	(3,737)	(6,394)	(6,910)
Sale and redemption of fixed-maturity securities	4,651	7,288	8,687
Sale (purchase) of short-term investments, net	251	363	1,735
Sale (purchase) of other investments, net	81	55	182
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements	(85)	16
Collateral (to) from swap counterparty		166
Contributions to subsidiaries		(35)	(1,243)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	1,161	1,459	2,451
Proceeds from issuance of investment agreement	102	91	140
Payments for drawdowns of investment agreements	(500)	(735)	(1,968)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(835)	(618)	(696)
Payments for retirement of debt	(70)	(43)	(50)
Payments for affiliate loans	(13)	(380)	(1,782)
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements			53
Purchase of treasury stock	(50)	(30)	(16)
Restricted stock awards settlements	(2)	2	2
Collateral from reverse repurchase agreement counterparties			30
Collateral (to) from swap counterparty			(101)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,368)	(1,713)	(4,388)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	49	(66)	(974)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	83	149	1,123
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	132	83	149
Income taxes paid (received), net	(453)	(136)	127
Interest paid, Investment agreements	29	35	61
Interest paid, Securities sold under agreement to repurchase	1	2	7
Interest paid, Affiliate loans	19	36	65
Interest paid, Long-term debt	60	66	70
Non-Cash [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Net (gains) losses on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	284	117	(102)
Other net realized (gains) losses	$ 42	$ (1)	$ (4)