| **Investments (Activity related to the pretax fixed maturity credit loss component reflected within retained earnings for securities still held) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                    |           |           |   |   |
| Beginning balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities                                                                                                                                             | $ 100          | $ 113          | $ 92 | $ 141 |
| Additional credit losses for securities for which an OTTI loss was previously recognized                                                                                                                    | 10             | 8              | 21 | 18 |
| Credit losses for securities for which an OTTI loss was not previously recognized                                                                                                                           | 1              |      | 2 | 1 |
| Reductions for securities sold during the period                                                                                                                                                            | (4)            | (21)           | (8) | (46) |
| Reductions for securities the Company intends to sell or more likely than not will be required to sell                                                                                                      | (8)            | (18)           | (8) | (32) |
| Ending balance of credit losses on fixed maturity securities                                                                                                                                                | $ 99           | $ 82           | $ 99 | $ 82 |

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| - Definition
This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.
+ References
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| - Definition
This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized.
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).
+ References
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents reductions in the amount of cumulative losses recognized in earnings for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) for which a portion of the impairment had been recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity) due to a change in status of the impaired security because of a change in the entity's intent to either sell the impaired security or it has become more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the security before recovery of its cost basis.
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period.
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