XML 1116 R136.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Derivatives (Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals $ 13,707met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals $ 8,850met_DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossAssetExcludingAccruals
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals 7,082met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals 6,549met_DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossLiabilityExcludingAccruals
Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives in Net Liability Position 1,916us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue 1,694us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A One Notch Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating 5us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue 27us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating to a Level that Triggers Full Overnight Collateralization or Termination of the Derivative Position 7us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue 34us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue
Fixed Maturity Securities    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided 1,815us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
1,530us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Cash    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided 133us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
3us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
Derivatives subject to credit-contingent provisions    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives in Net Liability Position 1,832us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
1,674us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A One Notch Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating 5us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
27us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating to a Level that Triggers Full Overnight Collateralization or Termination of the Derivative Position 7us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
34us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Derivatives subject to credit-contingent provisions | Fixed Maturity Securities    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided 1,750us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
1,530us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Derivatives subject to credit-contingent provisions | Cash    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided 131us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
0us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Derivatives not subject to credit-contingent provisions    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives in Net Liability Position 84us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
20us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A One Notch Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating 0us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
0us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating to a Level that Triggers Full Overnight Collateralization or Termination of the Derivative Position 0us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
0us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Derivatives not subject to credit-contingent provisions | Fixed Maturity Securities    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided 65us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
0us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
Derivatives not subject to credit-contingent provisions | Cash    
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]    
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided $ 2us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember
$ 3us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
/ us-gaap_UnderlyingAssetClassAxis
= met_DerivativesNotSubjectToCreditContingentProvisionsMember