Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	$ 2,000,000,000
Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (Textual) [Abstract]
Transfer of amount from level 2 to 1	0
Cash collateral liability	320,000,000	1,400,000,000
Investment sales receivable	6,000,000,000	4,000,000,000
Derivatives priced by valuation models	99.00%	98.00%
Credit standing adjustment	16,000,000	80,000,000
Behavior Risk Margin	291,000,000	419,000,000
Credit-linked notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding principal balance of notes		$ 243,000,000

Behavior risk margin.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Credit standing adjustment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Derivatives priced by valuation models.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Details

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- Definition

Investment sales receivable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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- Definition

The amount as of the balance sheet date of the fair value of derivative liabilities that in accordance with the entity's accounting policy were offset against the right to reclaim cash collateral under a master netting arrangement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FIN39-1

-Paragraph 10B

-Subparagraph b

-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.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

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- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

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