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REINSURANCE - Effect of Reinsurance on Premiums and Benefits and Claims (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2016
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Direct premium income | $ 4,734 | $ 5,119 | $ 14,210 | $ 14,724
Net premium income | 4,648 | 5,022 | 13,951 | 14,447
Direct benefits and claims | 3,157 | 3,463 | 9,403 | 9,898
Benefits and claims, net | 3,083 | 3,378 | 9,174 | 9,657
All other |  |  |  |
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ceded premiums | (12) | (13) | (37) | (37)
Assumed premiums earned | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6
Ceded benefits and claims | (9) | (10) | (31) | (26)
Assumed benefits and claims from other companies | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2
Aflac Japan |  |  |  |
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Net premium income | 3,200 | 3,596 | 9,616 | 10,177
Aflac Japan | Closed Block |  |  |  |
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ceded premiums | (130) | (148) | (390) | (423)
Assumed premiums earned | 54 | 62 | 163 | 177
Ceded benefits and claims | (118) | (135) | (359) | (385)
Assumed benefits and claims from other companies | 53 | 59 | 159 | 168
Intercompany eliminations |  |  |  |
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Ceded benefits and claims | 13 | 16 | 39 | 44
Assumed benefits and claims from other companies | $ (13) | $ (16) | $ (39) | $ (44)

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- Definition Amount of earned premiums ceded to other entities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84167274&loc=d3e27175-158546 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 235 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915 + Details
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- Definition Amount, before effect of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to provision for policy benefits and costs incurred. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 + Details
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