Financing Receivables (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Commercial mortgage loans
Less: allowance for loan losses	$ 60	$ 64	$ 71
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net
Commercial mortgage loans
Percent of commercial mortgage loans with highest risk rating	3.00%	3.00%
Gross commercial mortgage loans	2,624	2,615
Less: allowance for loan losses	35	38
Net commercial mortgage loans	2,589	2,577
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	100.00%	100.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Apartments
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	392	351
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	15.00%	13.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Hotel
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	51	57
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	2.00%	2.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Industrial
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	480	475
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	18.00%	18.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Mixed Use
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	42	43
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	2.00%	2.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Office
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	694	747
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	26.00%	29.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Retail
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	845	843
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	32.00%	32.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Other
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	120	99
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	5.00%	4.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| East North Central
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	252	242
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	10.00%	9.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| East South Central
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	65	66
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	2.00%	3.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Middle Atlantic
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	223	215
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	9.00%	8.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Mountain
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	284	301
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	11.00%	11.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| New England
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	141	156
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	5.00%	6.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Pacific
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	584	541
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	22.00%	21.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| South Atlantic
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	648	625
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	25.00%	24.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| West North Central
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	244	271
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	9.00%	10.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| West South Central
Commercial mortgage loans
Gross commercial mortgage loans	$ 183	$ 198
Percentage of gross commercial mortgage loans	7.00%	8.00%

Represents the gross amount of commercial mortgage loans as a percentage of the total gross value.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the percentage of commercial mortgage loans that the company has assigned its highest risk rating.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

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- Definition

Reflects the aggregate carrying amount of all categories of loans and leases held in portfolio, net of unearned income and the allowance for losses on loans and leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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- Definition

Reflects the gross carrying amount of unpaid loans issued to businesses to provide financing on existing land or a building, which, pursuant to terms of the underlying debt instrument, are secured at a minimum but possibly exclusively by that real property. Mortgages represent permanent financing, and are issued to replace previously existing mortgages or pay off acquisition, development and construction loans, or to provide cash to the borrower.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5066-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a)(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph a

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Chapter 8

-Paragraph 51

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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