Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months	$ 10
Future Policy Benefits
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	(8,332)	$ (8,152)
Prudential Insurance \| Reinsurance Recoverables
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	234	232
Pruco Life \| Reinsurance Recoverables
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	6	$ 12
Policyholders'AccountBalances [Member]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosures [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	$ 42

The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=112277219&loc=d3e80748-113994

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosuresLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net fair value as of the balance sheet date of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives classified as assets, net of those classified as liabilities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFairValueOfEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	cik881453_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByPrimaryGroupTypeAxis=cik881453_FuturePolicyBenefitsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=cik881453_PrudentialInsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cik881453_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationByPrimaryGroupTypeAxis=us-gaap_ReinsuranceRecoverableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=cik881453_PrucoLifeInsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=cik881453_PolicyholdersAccountBalancesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: