- Definition

Combined amount of increased long term care reserves required as a result of the use of certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing related to statutory practices by insurance regulators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_StatutoryAccountingPracticesCombinedStrengtheningAmount
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term care reserves required as a result of the use of certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing related to statutory practices by insurance regulators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryLongTermCareReservesRequiredInFirstYearOfAssetAdequacyTesting
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term care reserves required as a result of the use of certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing related to statutory practices by insurance regulators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryLongTermCareReservesRequiredInFourthYearOfAssetAdequacyTesting
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term care reserves required as a result of the use of certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing related to statutory practices by insurance regulators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryLongTermCareReservesRequiredInSecondYearOfAssetAdequacyTesting
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long term care reserves required as a result of the use of certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing related to statutory practices by insurance regulators.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	met_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryLongTermCareReservesRequiredInThirdYearOfAssetAdequacyTesting
Namespace Prefix:	met_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Equity (Statutory Long Term Care Reserves) (Details) (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York Licensing Inquiry [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
2013 Strengthening		$ 300
2014 Strengthening	100	200
2015 Strengthening	100	100
2016 Strengthening	100
Combined Strengthening	300	300
Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Combined Strengthening			$ 100	$ 200