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Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]    
Deposit assets in premiums, reinsurance, and other receivables or secondary guarantee risk for reinsurance $ 2,900 $ 2,100
Deposit liabilities in other liabilities for reinsurance 31 32
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Reinsurance recoverables $ 5,300 6,600
Modified Coinsurance of Closed Block [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Reinsured risk percentage 59.25%  
Mortality Risk on Yearly Renewable Term Basis [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Retention amount $ 5  
Mortality Risk [Member]    
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]    
Percentage of reinsured risk in excess of stated amount 90.00%  
Retention amount $ 2  
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  
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Reinsurance recoverables $ 3,400 3,500
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%  
Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount $ 3,000 $ 4,300
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables percentage 57.00% 65.00%
Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member] | Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]    
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]    
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount $ 1,800 $ 1,800