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INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2013 investment | Mar. 31, 2012 investment | Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, number of investments | 0 | 1 |
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, amortized cost |  | $ 122 |
Reclassified investments from the held-to-maturity portfolio to the available-for-sale portfolio, aggregate unrealized gain (loss) |  | (23) |
Total Unrealized Losses | 2,683 |  | 1,582
Fair value of investments in an unrealized loss position | 26,588 |  | 40,707
Percentage that the lending policy requires that the fair value of the securities and/or unrestricted cash received as collateral be of the fair value of the loaned securities | 102.00% |  |
Banks/financial Institutions |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Total Unrealized Losses | 1,500 |  |
Fair value of investments in an unrealized loss position | 8,700 |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Not Consolidated |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, fair value | 7,287 |  | 8,350
Number of issuers of VIEs not-consolidated | 143 |  |
Investment grade | Banks/financial Institutions |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses attributable to securities that were investment grade | 83.00% |  | 81.00%
Investment grade | Public Utilities |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses attributable to securities that were investment grade | 85.00% |  | 69.00%
Investment grade | Sovereign and Supranational |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses attributable to securities that were investment grade | 99.00% |  | 96.00%
Investment grade | Other Corporate |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses attributable to securities that were investment grade | 88.00% |  | 72.00%
Investment grade | Parent Company |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, amortized cost | 144 |  |
Securities available for sale, fixed maturities, fair value | 167 |  |
Below Investment Grade | Banks/financial Institutions |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Total Unrealized Losses | 255 |  |
Fair value of investments in an unrealized loss position | 617 |  |
Number of Issuers | 3 |  |
Perpetual Securities |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Perpetual securities, interest coupons that were fixed at issuance subsequently change to a floating short-term interest rate | floating short-term interest rate of 125 to more than 300 basis points above an appropriate market index |  |
Maturity date (in years) | 25 years |  |
Total Unrealized Losses | 598 |  | 170
Fair value of investments in an unrealized loss position | 2,063 |  | 1,451
Unrealized Gain (Loss) | (500) |  | 89
Perpetual Securities | Lower Limit |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Perpetual securities, floating short-term interest rate basis point above market index | 1.25% |  |
Perpetual Securities | Minimum Upper Limit |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Perpetual securities, floating short-term interest rate basis point above market index | 3.00% |  |
Perpetual Securities | Investment grade |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of unrealized losses attributable to securities that were investment grade | 88.00% |  | 100.00%
Tier I | Perpetual Securities |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrealized Gain (Loss) | (152) |  | (48)
Upper Tier II | Perpetual Securities |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrealized Gain (Loss) | (281) |  | 94
Upper Tier II | Perpetual Securities | A |  |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |  |
Unrealized Gain (Loss) | $ 17 |  | $ 28

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