Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net [Abstract]

Schedule of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Information regarding DAC and VOBA was as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(In millions)
DAC:
Balance at January 1,	$	14,789		$	13,830		$	13,464
Capitalizations	3,254			3,002			3,152
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	(109		)	60			229
Other expenses	(2,599		)	(2,426		)	(2,555		)
Total amortization	(2,708		)	(2,366		)	(2,326		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	511			(525		)	(171		)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(276		)	848			(289		)
Balance at December 31,	15,570			14,789			13,830
VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	3,630			3,760			3,966
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	—			—			(3		)
Other expenses	(267		)	(315		)	(389		)
Total amortization	(267		)	(315		)	(392		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	10			(4		)	8
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(48		)	189			178
Balance at December 31,	3,325			3,630			3,760
Total DAC and VOBA:
Balance at December 31,	$	18,895		$	18,419		$	17,590

Schedule of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Information regarding DAC and VOBA was as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(In millions)
DAC:
Balance at January 1,	$	14,789		$	13,830		$	13,464
Capitalizations	3,254			3,002			3,152
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	(109		)	60			229
Other expenses	(2,599		)	(2,426		)	(2,555		)
Total amortization	(2,708		)	(2,366		)	(2,326		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	511			(525		)	(171		)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(276		)	848			(289		)
Balance at December 31,	15,570			14,789			13,830
VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	3,630			3,760			3,966
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	—			—			(3		)
Other expenses	(267		)	(315		)	(389		)
Total amortization	(267		)	(315		)	(392		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	10			(4		)	8
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	(48		)	189			178
Balance at December 31,	3,325			3,630			3,760
Total DAC and VOBA:
Balance at December 31,	$	18,895		$	18,419		$	17,590

Information regarding Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired by Segment

Information regarding total DAC and VOBA by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows at:

	December 31,
	2018		2017
	(In millions)
U.S.	$	633	$	614
Asia	10,156		9,261
Latin America	1,984		2,050
EMEA	1,622		1,673
MetLife Holdings	4,474		4,797
Corporate & Other	26		24
Total	$	18,895	$	18,419

Deferred Sales Inducements of Business Acquired

Information regarding other intangibles was as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(In millions)
DSI:
Balance at January 1,	$	220		$	241		$	242
Capitalization	7			16			22
Amortization	(33		)	(29		)	(23		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	16			(6		)	—
Effect of foreign currency translation	—			(2		)	—
Balance at December 31,	$	210		$	220		$	241
VODA and VOCRA:
Balance at January 1,	$	459		$	509		$	583
Amortization	(47		)	(51		)	(57		)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(28		)	1			(17		)
Balance at December 31,	$	384		$	459		$	509
Accumulated amortization	$	392		$	345		$	294
Negative VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	$	827		$	935		$	1,193
Amortization	(56		)	(140		)	(269		)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	8			32			11
Balance at December 31,	$	779		$	827		$	935
Accumulated amortization	$	3,230		$	3,174		$	3,034

Value of Distribution Agreements and Customer Relationships Acquired and Negative Value of Business Acquired

Information regarding other intangibles was as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(In millions)
DSI:
Balance at January 1,	$	220		$	241		$	242
Capitalization	7			16			22
Amortization	(33		)	(29		)	(23		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	16			(6		)	—
Effect of foreign currency translation	—			(2		)	—
Balance at December 31,	$	210		$	220		$	241
VODA and VOCRA:
Balance at January 1,	$	459		$	509		$	583
Amortization	(47		)	(51		)	(57		)
Effect of foreign currency translation	(28		)	1			(17		)
Balance at December 31,	$	384		$	459		$	509
Accumulated amortization	$	392		$	345		$	294
Negative VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	$	827		$	935		$	1,193
Amortization	(56		)	(140		)	(269		)
Effect of foreign currency translation and other	8			32			11
Balance at December 31,	$	779		$	827		$	935
Accumulated amortization	$	3,230		$	3,174		$	3,034

Estimated Future Amortization Expense (Credit)

The estimated future amortization expense (credit) to be reported in other expenses for the next five years was as follows:

	VOBA		VODA and VOCRA		Negative VOBA
	(In millions)
2019	$	267	$	42	$	(41	)
2020	$	247	$	38	$	(41	)
2021	$	223	$	35	$	(39	)
2022	$	209	$	32	$	(37	)
2023	$	195	$	29	$	(36	)