Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Policyholder account balances	$ 21,953		$ 22,735
Future policy benefits	7,199		6,258
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds	658		627
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	29,810		29,620
Separate account liability
Variable annuity	71,345		70,687
VUL insurance	6,925		6,885
Other insurance	43		44
Threadneedle investment liabilities	4,107		3,607
Total	82,420		81,223
Fixed annuities [Member]
Policyholder account balances	12,922		13,826
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts [Member]
Policyholder account balances	4,869		4,926
VUL/UL insurance [Member]
Policyholder account balances	2,841		2,790
IUL [Member]
Policyholder account balances	475		315
Other life insurance [Member]
Policyholder account balances	846		878
Variable annuity GMWB [Member]
Future policy benefits	145	[1]	(383)	[1]
Variable annuity GMAB [Member]
Future policy benefits	(55)	[1]	(62)	[1]
Other annuity liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits	118		76
Fixed annuities life contingent liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits	1,518		1,523
EIA [Member]
Future policy benefits	29		29
Life disability income and long term care insurance [Member]
Future policy benefits	5,041		4,739
VUL/UL and other life insurance additional liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits	$ 403		$ 336

[1] Includes the value of GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives that was a net asset at both September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 reported as a contra liability.