| Changes in the gross U.S. GMDB, International GMDB/GMIB, and UL Secondary Guarantee Benefits [Table Text Block] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Changes in Reserves for Future Policy Benefits | | Universal Life - Type Contracts | | | | GMDB/GMWB [1] | Universal Life Secondary Guarantees | Traditional Annuity and Other Contracts [2] | Total Future Policy Benefits | Liability balance as of January 1, 2017 | $ | 786 |
| $ | 2,627 |
| $ | 10,516 |
| $ | 13,929 |
| Incurred [3] | 24 |
| 79 |
| 225 |
| 328 |
| Paid | (27 | ) | — |
| (197 | ) | (224 | ) | Change in unrealized investment gains and losses | — |
| — |
| 18 |
| 18 |
| Liability balance as of March 31, 2017 | $ | 783 |
| $ | 2,706 |
| $ | 10,562 |
| $ | 14,051 |
| Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1, 2017 | $ | 432 |
| $ | 2,627 |
| $ | 1,392 |
| $ | 4,451 |
| Incurred [3] | 17 |
| 79 |
| 46 |
| 142 |
| Paid | (23 | ) | — |
| (11 | ) | (34 | ) | Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of March 31, 2017 | $ | 426 |
| $ | 2,706 |
| $ | 1,427 |
| $ | 4,559 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Universal Life - Type Contracts | | | | GMDB/GMWB [1] | Universal Life Secondary Guarantees | Traditional Annuity and Other Contracts [2] | Total Future Policy Benefits | Liability balance as of January 1, 2016 | $ | 863 |
| $ | 2,313 |
| $ | 10,683 |
| $ | 13,859 |
| Incurred [3] | 28 |
| 69 |
| 227 |
| 324 |
| Paid | (38 | ) | — |
| (196 | ) | (234 | ) | Change in unrealized investment gains and losses | — |
| — |
| 224 |
| 224 |
| Liability balance as of March 31, 2016 | $ | 853 |
| $ | 2,382 |
| $ | 10,938 |
| $ | 14,173 |
| Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of January 1, 2016 | $ | 523 |
| $ | 2,313 |
| $ | 1,478 |
| $ | 4,314 |
| Incurred [3] | 25 |
| 69 |
| 37 |
| 131 |
| Paid | (29 | ) | — |
| (15 | ) | (44 | ) | Reinsurance recoverable asset, as of March 31, 2016 | $ | 519 |
| $ | 2,382 |
| $ | 1,500 |
| $ | 4,401 |
|
| | [1] | These liability balances include all GMDB benefits, plus the life-contingent portion of GMWB benefits in excess of the return of the GRB. GMWB benefits that make up a shortfall between the account value and the GRB are embedded derivatives held at fair value and are excluded from these balances. |
| | [2] | Represents life-contingent reserves for which the company is subject to insurance and investment risk. |
| | [3] | Includes the portion of assessments established as additions to reserves as well as changes in estimates affecting the reserves. |
|
| Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Table Text Block] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Account Value by GMDB/GMWB Type as of March 31, 2017 | Maximum anniversary value (“MAV”) [1] | Account Value (“AV”) [8] | Net Amount at Risk (“NAR”) [9] | Retained Net Amount at Risk (“RNAR”) [9] | Weighted Average Attained Age of Annuitant | MAV only | $ | 13,713 |
| $ | 2,166 |
| $ | 326 |
| 71 | With 5% rollup [2] | 1,166 |
| 166 |
| 53 |
| 71 | With Earnings Protection Benefit Rider (“EPB”) [3] | 3,484 |
| 493 |
| 77 |
| 71 | With 5% rollup & EPB | 475 |
| 104 |
| 23 |
| 73 | Total MAV | 18,838 |
| 2,929 |
| 479 |
| | Asset Protection Benefit (“APB”) [4] | 10,416 |
| 127 |
| 83 |
| 69 | Lifetime Income Benefit (“LIB”) — Death Benefit [5] | 463 |
| 5 |
| 5 |
| 70 | Reset [6] (5-7 years) | 2,436 |
| 7 |
| 7 |
| 70 | Return of Premium (“ROP”) [7]/Other | 8,795 |
| 63 |
| 60 |
| 69 | Subtotal Variable Annuity with GMDB/GMWB [10] | 40,948 |
| $ | 3,131 |
| $ | 634 |
| 70 | Less: General Account Value with GMDB/GMWB | 3,727 |
| | | | Subtotal Separate Account Liabilities with GMDB | 37,221 |
| | | | Separate Account Liabilities without GMDB | 79,361 |
| | | | Total Separate Account Liabilities | $ | 116,582 |
| | | |
| | [1] | MAV GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals). |
| | [2] | Rollup GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, net premium paid and premiums (adjusted for withdrawals) accumulated at generally 5% simple interest up to the earlier of age 80 years or 100% of adjusted premiums. |
| | [3] | EPB GMDB is the greatest of the MAV, current AV, or contract value plus a percentage of the contract’s growth. The contract’s growth is AV less premiums net of withdrawals, subject to a cap of 200% of premiums net of withdrawals. |
| | [4] | APB GMDB is the greater of current AV or MAV, not to exceed current AV plus 25% times the greater of net premiums and MAV (each adjusted for premiums in the past 12 months). |
| | [5] | LIB GMDB is the greatest of current AV; net premiums paid; or, for certain contracts, a benefit amount generally based on market performance that ratchets over time. |
| | [6] | Reset GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the most recent five to seven year anniversary AV before age 80 years (adjusted for withdrawals). |
| | [7] | ROP GMDB is the greater of current AV or net premiums paid. |
| | [8] | AV includes the contract holder’s investment in the separate account and the general account. |
| | [9] | NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR represents NAR reduced for reinsurance. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity markets movements and increase when equity markets decline. |
[10] Some variable annuity contracts with GMDB also have a life-contingent GMWB that may provide for benefits in excess of the return of the GRB. Such contracts included in this amount have $6.4 billion of total account value and weighted average attained age of 72 years. There is no NAR or retained NAR related to these contracts. Includes $1.5 billion of contracts that had a GMDB at issue but no longer have a GMDB due to certain elections made by policyholders or their beneficiaries. | | | | | | | | Account Balance Breakdown of Variable Separate Account Investments for Contracts with Guarantees | Asset type | As of March 31, 2017 | As of December 31, 2016 | Equity securities (including mutual funds) | $ | 34,244 |
| $ | 33,880 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,977 |
| 3,045 |
| Total | $ | 37,221 |
| $ | 36,925 |
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