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Reinsurance (Effects of Reinsurance on Earnings) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Premiums:      
Direct premiums $ 40,049us-gaap_DirectPremiumsEarned $ 38,476us-gaap_DirectPremiumsEarned $ 38,719us-gaap_DirectPremiumsEarned
Reinsurance assumed 1,472us-gaap_AssumedPremiumsEarned 1,472us-gaap_AssumedPremiumsEarned 1,488us-gaap_AssumedPremiumsEarned
Reinsurance ceded (2,454)us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarned (2,274)us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarned (2,232)us-gaap_CededPremiumsEarned
Net premiums 39,067us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 37,674us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet 37,975us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNet
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:      
Direct universal life and investment-type product policy fees 10,768met_DirectInsuranceCommissionsAndFees 10,197met_DirectInsuranceCommissionsAndFees 9,216met_DirectInsuranceCommissionsAndFees
Reinsurance assumed 126met_AssumedInsuranceCommissionsAndFees 139met_AssumedInsuranceCommissionsAndFees 155met_AssumedInsuranceCommissionsAndFees
Reinsurance ceded (948)met_CededInsuranceCommissionsAndFees (885)met_CededInsuranceCommissionsAndFees (815)met_CededInsuranceCommissionsAndFees
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees 9,946us-gaap_InsuranceCommissionsAndFees 9,451us-gaap_InsuranceCommissionsAndFees 8,556us-gaap_InsuranceCommissionsAndFees
Policyholder benefits and claims:      
Direct policyholder benefits and claims 41,573us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross 40,211us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross 39,262us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredGross
Reinsurance assumed 962us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountAssumed 1,047us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountAssumed 1,167us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountAssumed
Reinsurance ceded (3,433)us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded (3,151)us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded (2,442)us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCeded
Net policyholder benefits and claims 39,102us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet 38,107us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet 37,987us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet
Other expenses:      
Direct other expenses 17,334met_DirectOperatingExpenses 16,712met_DirectOperatingExpenses 17,848met_DirectOperatingExpenses
Reinsurance assumed 165met_AssumedOperatingExpenses 147met_AssumedOperatingExpenses 228met_AssumedOperatingExpenses
Reinsurance ceded (408)met_CededOperatingExpenses (257)met_CededOperatingExpenses (321)met_CededOperatingExpenses
Net other expenses $ 17,091us-gaap_OperatingExpenses $ 16,602us-gaap_OperatingExpenses $ 17,755us-gaap_OperatingExpenses