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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Changes in Available-For-Sale Investments and Derivatives Classified as Level 3 (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | $ 3,803 |  | $ 560 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 95 |  | (64) |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (73) |  | (28) |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | (290) |  | 0 |
Settlements | (28) |  | (3) |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 3,507 |  | 465 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 44 | [1] | (64) | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Mortgage- and asset-backed Securities |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 394 |  | 267 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 0 |  | (6) |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (23) |  | (10) |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | (4) |  | (3) |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 367 |  | 248 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | (6) | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Public Utilities |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 422 |  | 0 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 0 |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (13) |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 409 |  | 0 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 0 | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Collateralized Debt Obligations |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  |  | 5 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings |  |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income |  |  | 0 |
Purchases |  |  | 0 |
Issuances |  |  | 0 |
Sales |  |  | 0 |
Settlements |  |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 |  |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 |  |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period |  |  | 5 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held |  |  | 0 | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Sovereign and Supranational |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 434 |  | 0 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 0 |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (16) |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 418 |  | 0 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 0 | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Banks/financial Institutions |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 1,074 |  | 386 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 0 |  | 1 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | 23 |  | 33 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 1,097 |  | 420 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 1 | [2]
Fixed Maturities | Other Corporate |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 1,105 |  | 0 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 2 |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (38) |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | (34) |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 1,035 |  | 0 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 0 | [2]
Perpetual Securities | Banks/financial Institutions |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 526 |  | 0 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 49 |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | 6 |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | (256) |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 325 |  | 0 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 0 | [2]
Equity Securities |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 4 |  | 4 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 0 |  | 0 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | 0 |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | 4 |  | 4 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 0 | [1] | 0 | [2]
Derivatives | Interest rate swaps |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | 30 |  |  |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | (2) |  |  |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | 0 |  |  |
Purchases | 0 |  |  |
Issuances | 0 |  |  |
Sales | 0 |  |  |
Settlements | 0 |  |  |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  |  |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  |  |
Balance, end of period | 28 |  |  |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | (2) | [1] |  |
Derivatives | Foreign currency swaps |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | (56) |  | 241 |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 13 |  | (64) |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | (12) |  | (51) |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | (24) |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | (79) |  | 126 |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | 13 | [1] | (64) | [2]
Derivatives | Credit default swaps |  |  |  |
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | (130) |  | (343) |
Realized gains or losses included in earnings | 33 |  | 5 |
Unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income | 0 |  | 0 |
Purchases | 0 |  | 0 |
Issuances | 0 |  | 0 |
Sales | 0 |  | 0 |
Settlements | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers into Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Transfers out of Level 3 | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance, end of period | (97) |  | (338) |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) still held | $ 33 | [1] | $ 5 | [2]
[1] | Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at March 31, 2012
[2] | Represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that were still held at March 31, 2011

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- Definition This element represents the amount of total gains or losses for the period, included in earnings, attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets classified as Level 3 that are still held at the end of the reporting period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -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 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c(1) -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 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Issues that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Sales that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Settlements that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Transfers into assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy that have taken place during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition Transfers out of assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy that have taken place during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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- Definition This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph c -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 820 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258 + Details
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