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Investments (Consolidated Variable Interest Entities - Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]      
Tax credits guaranteed by third parties that reduce maximum exposure to loss related to other invested assets $ 208met_TaxCreditsGuaranteedByThirdPartiesAmountThatReducesMaximumExposureToLossRelatedToOtherInvestedAssets   $ 212met_TaxCreditsGuaranteedByThirdPartiesAmountThatReducesMaximumExposureToLossRelatedToOtherInvestedAssets
Financial or other support to investees designated as VIEs 0us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount 0us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityFinancialOrOtherSupportAmount  
Consolidated Securitization Entities [Member]      
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]      
Variable interest, maximum exposure to loss in consolidated securitization entities 122us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
  123us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
Long-term debt held by consolidated securitization entities, percentage range minimum 2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
 
Long-term debt held by consolidated securitization entities, percentage range maximum 5.57%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
5.57%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentageRateRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
 
Interest expense on long-term debt held by consolidated securitization entities $ 1us-gaap_InterestExpenseLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember
$ 18us-gaap_InterestExpenseLongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_ConsolidatedEntitiesMember