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INVESTMENTS - Fair Value and Gross Unrealized Losses for Securities That Have Been in Continuous Unrealized Loss Position (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | $ 14,712 | $ 22,413
Total Unrealized Losses | 1,149 | 2,013
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 7,418 | 16,529
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 353 | 1,040
12 months or longer Fair Value | 7,294 | 5,884
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 796 | 973
Fixed maturities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 13,517 | 21,571
Total Unrealized Losses | 972 | 1,915
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 6,756 | 16,122
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 301 | 1,024
12 months or longer Fair Value | 6,761 | 5,449
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 671 | 891
Perpetual securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 630 | 651
Total Unrealized Losses | 126 | 94
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 97 | 216
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 1 | 12
12 months or longer Fair Value | 533 | 435
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 125 | 82
Equity securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 565 | 191
Total Unrealized Losses | 51 | 4
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 565 | 191
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 51 | 4
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 | 0
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 0 | 0
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Japan government and agencies |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 689 |
Total Unrealized Losses | 23 |
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 689 |
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 23 |
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 |
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 0 |
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Municipalities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 62 |
Total Unrealized Losses | 2 |
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 62 |
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 2 |
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 |
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 0 |
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Mortgage- and asset-backed securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 413 |
Total Unrealized Losses | 3 |
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 413 |
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 3 |
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 |
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 0 |
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Public utilities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 648 | 1,487
Total Unrealized Losses | 14 | 104
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 313 | 1,062
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 3 | 73
12 months or longer Fair Value | 335 | 425
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 11 | 31
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Sovereign and supranational |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 242 | 580
Total Unrealized Losses | 6 | 26
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 0 | 385
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 0 | 13
12 months or longer Fair Value | 242 | 195
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 6 | 13
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Banks/financial institutions |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 1,415 | 2,350
Total Unrealized Losses | 124 | 158
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 324 | 1,147
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 4 | 14
12 months or longer Fair Value | 1,091 | 1,203
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 120 | 144
Yen-denominated | Fixed maturities | Other corporate |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 897 | 1,151
Total Unrealized Losses | 53 | 77
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 364 | 343
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 13 | 5
12 months or longer Fair Value | 533 | 808
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 40 | 72
Yen-denominated | Perpetual securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 630 | 645
Total Unrealized Losses | 126 | 93
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 97 | 216
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 1 | 12
12 months or longer Fair Value | 533 | 429
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 125 | 81
Yen-denominated | Equity securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 382 | 191
Total Unrealized Losses | 42 | 4
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 382 | 191
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 42 | 4
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 | 0
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 0 | 0
Dollar-denominated | Fixed maturities | Municipalities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 50 | 80
Total Unrealized Losses | 3 | 6
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 0 | 80
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 0 | 6
12 months or longer Fair Value | 50 | 0
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 3 | 0
Dollar-denominated | Fixed maturities | Public utilities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 1,199 | 2,127
Total Unrealized Losses | 54 | 221
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 448 | 1,689
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 13 | 132
12 months or longer Fair Value | 751 | 438
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 41 | 89
Dollar-denominated | Fixed maturities | Banks/financial institutions |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 150 | 366
Total Unrealized Losses | 11 | 21
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 85 | 348
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 4 | 11
12 months or longer Fair Value | 65 | 18
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 7 | 10
Dollar-denominated | Fixed maturities | Other corporate |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 7,752 | 13,430
Total Unrealized Losses | 679 | 1,302
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 4,058 | 11,068
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 236 | 770
12 months or longer Fair Value | 3,694 | 2,362
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | 443 | 532
Dollar-denominated | Perpetual securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value |  | 6
Total Unrealized Losses |  | 1
Less than 12 months Fair Value |  | 0
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses |  | 0
12 months or longer Fair Value |  | 6
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses |  | $ 1
Dollar-denominated | Equity securities |  |
Investments, Unrealized Loss Position [Line Items] |  |
Total Fair Value | 183 |
Total Unrealized Losses | 9 |
Less than 12 months Fair Value | 183 |
Less than 12 months Unrealized Losses | 9 |
12 months or longer Fair Value | 0 |
12 months or longer Unrealized Losses | $ 0 |

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