XML 51 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Investments (Schedule Of Changes in Amount Of Credit Losses Of OTTI Recognized In Net Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2016
Investments [Abstract] |  |
Balance as of beginning of period | $ 430 | $ 382
Increases attributable to: |  |
Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was not previously recognized | 1 | 35
Credit losses on securities for which an OTTI was previously recognized | 3 | 5
Decreases attributable to: |  |
Securities sold, paid down or matured | (41) | (9)
Balance as of end of period | $ 393 | $ 413

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_DecreasesAttributableToAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lnc_IncreasesAttributableToAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | lnc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which a previous OTTI was recognized and the investor does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the investor will be required to sell the debt security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsAdditionalCreditLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents an increase to the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security held for which no such other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was previously recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsAdditionsNoPreviousImpairment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents reductions in the cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings for an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) of a debt security because of the sale of impaired securities during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsReductionsSecuritiesSold
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration