XML 103 R85.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.5.0.2
Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]    
Deposit assets in premiums, reinsurance, and other receivables or secondary guarantee risk for reinsurance $ 2,300,000,000 $ 2,300,000,000
Deposit liabilities in other liabilities for reinsurance 33,000,000 35,000,000
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Reinsurance recoverables 15,300,000,000 14,900,000,000
Mortality Risk on Yearly Renewable Term Basis [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Retention amount $ 5,000,000  
Modified Coinsurance of Closed Block [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Reinsured risk percentage 59.25%  
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Reinsurance recoverables $ 6,100,000,000 5,900,000,000
MetLife Holdings | Mortality Risk [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 90.00%  
Retention amount $ 2,000,000  
MetLife Holdings | Mortality Risk on Case by Case Basis [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
Retention amount $ 20,000,000  
MetLife Holdings | Fixed Annuities [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 90.00%  
MetLife Holdings | Living And Death Benefit Guarantees [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
MetLife Holdings | Variable Annuity [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
Brighthouse Financial | Mortality Risk [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
Retention amount $ 100,000  
Brighthouse Financial | Mortality Risk on Case by Case Basis [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
Brighthouse Financial | Fixed Annuities [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 90.00%  
Brighthouse Financial | Living And Death Benefit Guarantees [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 100.00%  
Brighthouse Financial | Quota Share Reinsurance for Certain Disability Business [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Reinsured risk percentage 100.00%  
Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount $ 10,800,000,000 $ 10,800,000,000
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables percentage 71.00% 73.00%
Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount $ 2,300,000,000 $ 2,600,000,000