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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Fair Value Hierarchy Levels of Assets and Liabilities Carried at Cost or Amortized Cost (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
--- | --- | ---
Liabilities: |  |
Notes payable (excluding capital leases) | $ 4,354 | $ 3,536
Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation | 47 | 71
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Financial Instruments Carried At Cost | 4,401 | 3,607
Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 48,444 | 46,383
Carrying Value |  |
Liabilities: |  |
Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation | 47 | 71
Government and Agencies Debt Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 23,067 | 19,071
Municipalities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 550 | 584
Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 121 | 134
Public Utilities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 5,207 | 5,637
Sovereign and Supranational | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 3,953 | 4,165
Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 10,878 | 11,480
Other Corporate | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 4,668 | 5,312
Level 1 |  |
Liabilities: |  |
Notes payable (excluding capital leases) | 0 | 0
Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Financial Instruments Carried At Cost | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 23,067 | 19,071
Level 1 | Government and Agencies Debt Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 23,067 | 19,071
Level 1 | Municipalities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Public Utilities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Sovereign and Supranational | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 1 | Other Corporate | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 2 |  |
Liabilities: |  |
Notes payable (excluding capital leases) | 0 | 0
Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation | 0 | 0
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Financial Instruments Carried At Cost | 0 | 0
Level 2 | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 25,291 | 27,217
Level 2 | Government and Agencies Debt Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 2 | Municipalities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 550 | 584
Level 2 | Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 35 | 39
Level 2 | Public Utilities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 5,207 | 5,637
Level 2 | Sovereign and Supranational | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 3,953 | 4,165
Level 2 | Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 10,878 | 11,480
Level 2 | Other Corporate | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 4,668 | 5,312
Level 3 |  |
Liabilities: |  |
Notes payable (excluding capital leases) | 4,354 | 3,536
Obligation to Japanese policyholder protection corporation | 47 | 71
Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Financial Instruments Carried At Cost | 4,401 | 3,607
Level 3 | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 86 | 95
Level 3 | Government and Agencies Debt Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 3 | Municipalities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 3 | Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 86 | 95
Level 3 | Public Utilities | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 3 | Sovereign and Supranational | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 3 | Banks/financial Institutions | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | 0 | 0
Level 3 | Other Corporate | Fixed Maturities |  |
Assets: |  |
Held-to-maturity securities | $ 0 | $ 0

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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investments in debt securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity and that have scheduled maturities more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer; such investments are normally measured at amortized cost (carrying value) unless circumstances indicate that the value to be recovered from the investment is less than its carried amount. The held-to-maturity category is for those securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 33 -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 7-11 -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. + Details
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