Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Balances by product) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Policyholder account balances		$ 20,953	$ 21,790
Future policy benefits		7,615	7,850
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds		777	710
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		29,345	30,350
Separate account liability
Variable annuity		72,264	72,125
VUL insurance		7,026	7,016
Other insurance		36	37
Threadneedle investment liabilities		4,378	4,078
Total		83,704	83,256
Fixed annuities [Member]
Policyholder account balances		11,734	12,700
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts [Member]
Policyholder account balances		4,874	4,860
VUL/UL insurance [Member]
Policyholder account balances		2,872	2,856
IUL [Member]
Policyholder account balances		661	534
Other life insurance [Member]
Policyholder account balances		812	840
Variable annuity GMWB [Member]
Future policy benefits		468	693
Variable annuity GMAB [Member]
Future policy benefits	[1]	(45)	(41)
Other annuity liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits		48	115
Fixed annuities life contingent liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits		1,504	1,511
EIA [Member]
Future policy benefits		29	29
Life disability income and long term care insurance [Member]
Future policy benefits		5,173	5,106
VUL/UL and other life insurance additional liabilities [Member]
Future policy benefits		$ 438	$ 437

[1] Includes the value of GMAB embedded derivatives that was a net asset at both June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 reported as a contra liability.