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Investments (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (decrease) in gross AFS securities unrealized losses | $ 703 |  |
Unrealized gain (loss), trading securities | $ 7 | $ (3) | $ (100)
Number of partnerships in alternative investment portfolio | item | 224 | 202 |
Alternative investments as a percentage of overall invested assets | 1.00% | 1.00% |
Fair value of collateral received that we are permitted to sell or re-pledge | $ 175 |  |
Securities that have been re-pledged | 174 |  |
Investment commitments | 1,300 |  |
Investment commitments for limited partnerships | 752 |  |
Investment commitments for mortgage loans on real estate | 320 |  |
Investment commitments for private placements | 196 |  |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation [Member] | Invested Assets [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value | $ 1,300 | $ 1,500 |
Concentration risk, percentage | 1.00% | 1.00% |
Federal National Mortgage Association [Member] | Invested Assets [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value | $ 1,000 | $ 1,100 |
Concentration risk, percentage | 1.00% | 1.00% |
Consumer Non-Cyclical Industry [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value | $ 15,000 | $ 13,700 |
Consumer Non-Cyclical Industry [Member] | Invested Assets [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage | 13.00% | 13.00% |
Utilities Industry [Member] | Invested Assets [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Fair value | $ 14,300 | $ 13,200 |
Concentration risk, percentage | 13.00% | 12.00% |
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | California [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage | 21.00% | 20.00% |
Mortgage Loans On Real Estate [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | Texas [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Concentration risk, percentage | 12.00% | 11.00% |
Corporate Bonds [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of fair value rated as investment grade | 96.00% | 95.00% |
Amortized cost of portfolio rated below investment grade | $ 3,500 | $ 3,800 |
Fair value of portfolio rated below investment grade | $ 3,500 | $ 3,700 |
ABS [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Percentage of fair value rated as investment grade | 98.00% | 96.00% |
Amortized cost of portfolio rated below investment grade | $ 46 | $ 91 |
Fair value of portfolio rated below investment grade | $ 43 | $ 75 |
MBS [Member] |  |  |
Investment [Line Items] |  |  |
Projected default rate on existing delinquencies on MBS (low end of range) | 10.00% | 10.00% |
Projected default rate on existing delinquencies on MBS (high end of range) | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Severity of second lien loans | 100.00% |  |
Severity of first lien loans | 30.00% |  |

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