| **Investments (Net realized investment gains (losses)) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Gain (Loss) on Investments**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | $ 22           |                | $ 15 |  | $ 58 |  | $ 28 |  |
| Fixed maturity securities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| **Gain (Loss) on Investments**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 49             |                | 89 |  | 118 |  | 177 |  |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | (32)           |                | (69) |  | (71) |  | (137) |  |
| Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 17             |                | 20 |  | 47 |  | 40 |  |
| Equity securities [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| **Gain (Loss) on Investments**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Gains                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 2              |                | 1 |  | 5 |  | 6 |  |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized Losses                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | (2)            |                | (3) |  | (4) |  | (8) |  |
| Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |      |                | (2) |  | 1 |  | (2) |  |
| Gain (Loss) on Derivatives [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| **Gain (Loss) on Investments**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | 1              |                |    |  |    |  | (1) |  |
| Short term and other [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| **Gain (Loss) on Investments**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |           |                |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Net realized investment gains (losses), net of participating policyholders’ interests                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           | $ 4            | [1]            | $ (3) | [1] | $ 10 | [1] | $ (9) | [1],[2] |
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| [1]Includes net unrealized gains (losses) related to changes in the fair value of securities for which the fair value option has been elected. There were no net unrealized gains (losses) for the three months ended June 30, 2012 or 2011. There were no net unrealized gains (losses) for the six months ended June 30, 2012 as compared with unrealized gains of $1 million for the same period in 2011.[2]The six months ended June 30, 2011 included a $9 million loss related to the early extinguishment of debt in 2011. |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
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| - Definition
The net realized gain or loss, net of participating policyholders' interests, recognized during the period on investments classified as available for sale.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
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| - Definition
This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563
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| X                                                                                                                                                                 |
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