v3.26.3
Policyholders' account balances (Policyholder Account Balance Rollforward) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Sep. 30, 2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]        
Balance – beginning of period $ 7,231 $ 6,748    
Policyholder Account Balance, Premium Received 1,108 706    
Policyholder Account Balance, Policy Charge (73) (88)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Surrender and Withdrawal (269) (258)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Benefit Payment [1] (343) (206)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Interest Expense 143 130    
Policyholder Account Balance, Increase (Decrease) from Other Change 244 169    
Balance – end of period 8,041 7,201    
Unearned Revenue Liability 794 760 $ 758 $ 711
Policyholder Account Balance, Other Reconciling Items [2] 610 578    
Policyholder Account Balance, Ending Balance 9,445 8,539    
Universal Life        
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]        
Balance – beginning of period 1,899 1,809    
Policyholder Account Balance, Premium Received 157 158    
Policyholder Account Balance, Policy Charge (66) (81)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Surrender and Withdrawal (104) (91)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Benefit Payment [1] (156) (24)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Interest Expense 37 35    
Policyholder Account Balance, Increase (Decrease) from Other Change 90 77    
Balance – end of period 1,857 1,883    
Policyholder Account Balance, Ending Balance $ 1,857 $ 1,883    
Policyholder Account Balance, Weighted Average Crediting Rate [3] 3.60% 3.50%    
Policyholder Account Balance, Net Amount at Risk [4] $ 10,568 $ 11,474    
Policyholder Account Balance, Cash Surrender Value 1,740 1,747    
Annuities [Member]        
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]        
Balance – beginning of period [5] 2,801 2,585    
Policyholder Account Balance, Premium Received [5] 200 232    
Policyholder Account Balance, Policy Charge [5] 0 0    
Policyholder Account Balance, Surrender and Withdrawal [5] (23) (24)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Benefit Payment [1],[5] (146) (116)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Interest Expense [5] 45 36    
Policyholder Account Balance, Increase (Decrease) from Other Change [5] 144 49    
Balance – end of period [5] 3,021 2,762    
Policyholder Account Balance, Net Amount at Risk [4],[6] 93 30    
Policyholder Account Balance, Cash Surrender Value [6] 2,036 1,827    
Insurance, Other        
Policyholder Account Balance [Line Items]        
Balance – beginning of period [7] 2,531 2,354    
Policyholder Account Balance, Premium Received [7] 751 316    
Policyholder Account Balance, Policy Charge [7] (7) (7)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Surrender and Withdrawal [7] (142) (143)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Benefit Payment [1],[7] (41) (66)    
Policyholder Account Balance, Interest Expense [7] 61 59    
Policyholder Account Balance, Increase (Decrease) from Other Change [7] 10 43    
Balance – end of period [7] 3,163 2,556    
Policyholder Account Balance, Ending Balance $ 3,163 $ 2,556    
Policyholder Account Balance, Weighted Average Crediting Rate [3] 3.40% 3.20%    
Policyholder Account Balance, Net Amount at Risk [4] $ 385 $ 366    
Policyholder Account Balance, Cash Surrender Value $ 2,820 $ 2,264    
[1] Includes payments for survival and death benefits.
[2] Primarily comprises unpaid dividends on certain participating policies.
[3] Calculated using actual interest credited for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
[4] For those guarantees of benefits that are payable in the event of death, the net amount at risk is defined as the current guaranteed minimum death benefit in excess of the current account balance at the balance sheet date.
[5] Relates to Huatai Life.
[6] Annuities do not have an explicit account balance, therefore a crediting rate is not applicable.
[7] Primarily comprises policyholder account balances related to investment linked products including endowment and investment contracts, none of which bear significant insurance risk.