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Derivatives (Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) (Cash Flow Hedges [Member], USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in AOCI (Effective Portion) $ 187met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion $ 321met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion
Interest rate swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in AOCI (Effective Portion) 174met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion
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Foreign currency swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in AOCI (Effective Portion) (2)met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion
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Interest rate forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in AOCI (Effective Portion) 15met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion
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Credit forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in AOCI (Effective Portion) 0met_GainsLossesDeferredInAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossOnDerivativesEffectivePortion
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Net derivative gains (losses)
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) (559)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized In Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) 7us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet
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Net derivative gains (losses) | Interest rate swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 5us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized In Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) 3us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet
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Net derivative gains (losses) | Foreign currency swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) (567)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized In Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) 4us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet
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Net derivative gains (losses) | Interest rate forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 3us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized In Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet
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Net derivative gains (losses) | Credit forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Recognized In Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet
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Net Investment Income
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 4us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Net Investment Income | Interest rate swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 3us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Net Investment Income | Foreign currency swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Net Investment Income | Interest rate forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Net Investment Income | Credit forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Other expenses
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Other expenses | Interest rate swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
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Other expenses | Foreign currency swaps
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Other expenses | Interest rate forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) 1us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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Other expenses | Credit forwards
   
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships    
Amount and Location of Gains (Losses) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) into Income (Loss) (Effective Portion) $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
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