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POLICY LIABILITIES - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of future policy benefits out of policy liabilities | 85.00% |  |
Percentage of unpaid policy claims out of policy liabilities | 4.00% |  |
Percentage of unearned premiums out of policy liabilities | 4.00% |  |
Percentage of other poliyholders' funds out of policy liabilities | 7.00% |  |
Percentage of advanced premiums to unearned premiums | 64.00% | 69.00% |
Percentage of annuities to other policyholders' fund | 97.00% | 97.00% |
Aflac Japan |  |  |
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for future policy benefits, interest rate | 3.20% | 3.30% | 3.40%
Aflac U.S. |  |  |
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Liability for future policy benefits, interest rate | 5.30% | 5.30% | 5.40%
Health insurance |  |  |
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Prior year claims and claims adjustment expense | $ (552) | $ (563) | $ (518)
Health insurance | Aflac Japan |  |  |
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items] |  |  |
Prior year claims and claims adjustment expense | $ (395) |  |
Percentage of total prior year claims and claims adjustment expense | 72.00% |  |
Liability for unpaid claims and claims adjustment expense, foreign currency translation gain (loss) | $ 5 |  |
Prior year claims and claims adjustment expense excluding effect of foreign currency | $ (390) |  |
Percentage of total prior year claims and claims adjustment expense excluding effect of foreign currency | 71.00% |  |

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- Definition Liability For Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss), Prior Year Claims Adjustment Expense + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of advanced premiums to unearned premiums + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage Of Other Policyholders' Funds To Policy Liabilities + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage Of Total Prior Year Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage Of Total Prior Year Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense Excluding Effect Of Foreign Currency + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage Of Unearned Premiums To Policy Liabilities + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of Unpaid Policy Claims to Policy liabilities + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of annuities to other policyholders' fund + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense (reversal of expense) for claims incurred in prior reporting periods and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116884095&loc=d3e14764-158437 + Details
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