Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (Details) (Textuals 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value Measurements - Financial Instruments Excluding Guaranteed Living Benefits (Textuals) [Abstract]
Cash collateral liability	$ 410,000,000	$ 968,000,000
Investment sales receivable	4,000,000,000	6,000,000,000
Derivatives priced by valuation models	98.00%	97.00%
Outstanding principal balance of notes	243,000,000	243,000,000
Carrying Amounts of Deposits included in Other Liabilities which approximates fair value	223,000,000	233,000,000
Carrying Amounts of Federal Home Loan Bank Advances included in Other Liabilities which approximates fair value	25,000,000	25,000,000
Credit standing adjustment	26,000,000	26,000,000
Behavior risk margin	$ 525,000,000	$ 565,000,000

Behavior risk margin.

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Credit standing adjustment.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Derivatives priced by valuation models.

+ Details

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Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value measurements.

+ Details

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- Definition

Investment sales receivable.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowings as of the balance sheet date from the Federal Home Loan Bank, which are primarily used to cover shortages in the required reserve balance and liquidity shortages.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 15
-Paragraph 37
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Paragraph 18
-Subsection I

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 12
-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 13
-Paragraph 37, 38, 39
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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 FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FIN39-1
-Paragraph 10B
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

This element represents a financial asset or liability (as defined) for which the fair value option is elected and which item existed at the effective date (as defined).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 159
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph a-e

+ Details

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