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Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2010 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2011 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2010 Fixed income securities	Sep. 30, 2011 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2010 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2011 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2010 Municipal	Sep. 30, 2011 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2010 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2011 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2010 Corporate	Sep. 30, 2010 Foreign government	Sep. 30, 2011 Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")	Sep. 30, 2011 Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS")	Sep. 30, 2011 Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")	Sep. 30, 2011 Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS")	Sep. 30, 2011 Asset-backed securities ("ABS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Asset-backed securities ("ABS")	Sep. 30, 2011 Asset-backed securities ("ABS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Asset-backed securities ("ABS")	Sep. 30, 2010 Redeemable preferred stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Redeemable preferred stock	Jun. 30, 2011 Redeemable preferred stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Redeemable preferred stock	Jun. 30, 2010 Redeemable preferred stock	Sep. 30, 2010 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2011 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2010 Equity securities	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity securities	Sep. 30, 2011 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2010 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2011 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2010 Free-standing derivatives, net	Sep. 30, 2011 Other assets.	Jun. 30, 2011 Other assets.	Dec. 31, 2010 Other assets.	Sep. 30, 2010 Other assets.	Jun. 30, 2010 Other assets.	Dec. 31, 2009 Other assets.
Fair Value Assets Measured on Recurring Basis Unobservable Input Reconciliation Calculation Rollforward
Balance at beginning of period	$ 7,561	$ 9,712	$ 9,102	$ 10,171	$ 7,574	$ 9,743	$ 9,059	$ 10,045	$ 1,554	$ 2,197	$ 2,016	$ 2,706	$ 1,720	$ 2,225	$ 1,908	$ 2,241	$ 20	$ 1,194	$ 2,010	$ 1,794	$ 1,671	$ 938	$ 880	$ 923	$ 1,404	$ 2,167	$ 2,430	$ 2,417	$ 2,001	$ 2	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 66	$ 63	$ 69	$ 42	$ (56)	$ (99)	$ (21)	$ 55	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 2	$ 2	$ 2
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income, recurring Level 3 assets	(108)	(125)	(215)	(705)	(51)	(129)	(114)	(471)	(10)	13	(34)	(34)	(4)	8	31	(29)			(102)	(87)	(271)	(1)	(66)	(43)	(173)	(36)	18	19	36						14	(10)	8		(57)	(10)	(91)	(242)
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in OCI on Statement of Financial Position	(100)	508	236	1,413	(100)	508	236	1,409	1	18	67	76	(23)	77	(5)	178		2	206	108	549	(5)	134	113	434	(75)	73	(47)	172								4
Purchases	417		941		412		869				13		245		376							2		12		165		468											5		72
Sales	(130)		(1,571)		(130)		(1,570)		(70)		(525)		(59)		(437)					(378)				(66)		(1)		(164)								(1)
Settlements	(142)		(515)		(140)		(445)				(3)		(45)		(57)			(4)		(132)		(1)		(3)		(90)		(250)											(2)		(70)
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net		(470)		(505)		(469)		(585)		(87)		(539)		(96)		(62)	(20)		(230)		(51)		(120)		(448)		64		536	(1)					(15)		(12)			14		92
Transfers into Level 3	23	235	271	438	23	235	271	438		5		21	3	192	185	355						20	38	86	62
Transfers out of Level 3	(2,435)	(464)	(3,163)	(1,416)	(2,435)	(464)	(3,153)	(1,412)	(22)	(2)	(81)	(86)	(107)	(229)	(271)	(506)		(1,100)		(1,213)	(14)	(877)		(946)	(413)	(329)	(233)	(642)	(393)							(10)	(4)
Balance at end of period	5,086	9,396	5,086	9,396	5,153	9,424	5,153	9,424	1,453	2,144	1,453	2,144	1,730	2,177	1,730	2,177		92	1,884	92	1,884	76	866	76	866	1,801	2,352	1,801	2,352	1	1	1	1	1	65	42	65	42	(110)	(95)	(110)	(95)	1	1	1	2	2	2
Fair value assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis, gain (loss) included in earnings
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in net income, recurring Level 3 assets and liabilities	(106)	(148)	(239)	(740)
Effect to net income included in realized capital gains and losses	(119)	(136)	(242)	(767)
Effect to net income included in investment income	14	11	30	65
Effect to net income included in interest credited to contractholder funds	54		(9)	(3)
Effect to net income included in life and annuity contract benefits	(55)	(23)	(18)	(35)
Free-standing derivatives, assets	1	11	1	11
Free-standing derivatives, liabilities	$ 111	$ 106	$ 111	$ 106