Fair Value Measurements (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					$ (2,618)		$ (1,653)		$ (2,270)	$ (1,460)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	849	[1],[2],[3]	(1,365)	[1],[2],[3]	1,279	[1],[2],[3]	(1,088)	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	(1)	[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements	(37)		(39)		(120)		(123)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(1,459)		(2,864)		(1,459)		(2,864)		(2,270)	(1,460)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	849	[1],[5]	(1,365)	[1],[5]	1,279	[1],[5]	(1,088)	[1],[5]
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(2,538)		(1,611)		(2,203)	(1,420)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	823	[1],[2],[3]	(1,315)	[1],[2],[3]	1,235	[1],[2],[3]	(1,047)	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI		[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements	(33)		(36)		(110)		(113)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(1,413)		(2,771)		(1,413)		(2,771)		(2,203)	(1,420)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	823	[1],[5]	(1,315)	[1],[5]	1,235	[1],[5]	(1,047)	[1],[5]
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member] | International [Member] | Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(66)		(36)		(53)	(30)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	20	[1],[2],[3]	(49)	[1],[2],[3]	36	[1],[2],[3]	(38)	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI	(1)	[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements	(3)		(2)		(7)		(7)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(37)		(81)		(37)		(81)		(53)	(30)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	20	[1],[5]	(49)	[1],[5]	36	[1],[5]	(38)	[1],[5]
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member] | International [Member] | Other Living Benefits [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(5)		3		(4)	0
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	6	[1],[2],[3]	(5)	[1],[2],[3]	9	[1],[2],[3]	(6)	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI		[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements	(1)		(1)		(3)		(3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	1		(6)		1		(6)		(4)	0
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	6	[1],[5]	(5)	[1],[5]	9	[1],[5]	(6)	[1],[5]
Other Liabilities [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(9)		(37)		(29)	(44)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	(14)	[1],[2],[3]	31	[1],[2],[3]	(34)	[1],[2],[3]	24	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI		[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements	0
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(43)		(13)		(43)		(13)		(29)	(44)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	(14)	[1],[5]	31	[1],[5]	(34)	[1],[5]	24	[1],[5]
Consumer Notes [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(4)		(5)		(4)	(4)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income	2	[1],[2],[3]		[1],[2],[3]	2	[1],[2],[3]	1	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI		[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(2)		(4)		(2)		(4)		(4)	(4)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30	2	[1],[5]		[1],[5]	2	[1],[5]	1	[1],[5]
Equity linked notes [Member] | Other policyholder funds and benefits payable [Member]
Roll Forward of Financial Instruments (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Beginning Balance					(9)		(9)		(10)	(10)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income		[1],[2],[3]	4	[1],[2],[3]	(1)	[1],[2],[3]	3	[1],[2],[3]
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI		[4]		[4]		[4]		[4]
Settlements
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Liabilities), Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis, Ending Balance	(10)		(6)		(10)		(6)		(10)	(10)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income related to financial instruments still held at June 30		[1],[5]	$ 4	[1],[5]	$ (1)	[1],[5]	$ 3	[1],[5]

[1] All amounts in these rows are reported in net realized capital gains/losses. The realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income for separate account assets are offset by an equal amount for separate account liabilities, which results in a net zero impact on net income for the Company. All amounts are before income taxes and amortization DAC.

[2] Includes both market and non-market impacts in deriving realized and unrealized gains (losses).

[3] The Company classifies gains and losses on GMWB reinsurance derivatives and Guaranteed Living Benefit embedded derivatives as unrealized gains (losses) for purposes of disclosure in this table because it is impracticable to track on a contract-by-contract basis the realized gains (losses) for these derivatives and embedded derivatives.

[4] All amounts are before income taxes and amortization of DAC.

[5] Amounts presented are for Level 3 only and therefore may not agree to other disclosures included herein.