For advances to affiliates, interest rate stated in the contractual agreement.

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- Definition

For advances to affiliates, description of the interest rate as being fixed or variable, and, if variable, identification of the index or rate on which the interest rate is based and the number of points or percentage added to that index or rate to set the rate, and other pertinent information, such as frequency of rate resets.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

For advances to affiliates, The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the interest rate stated in the contractual agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Income derived from interest on loans to subsidiaries.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Repayment of long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. This does not include advances to clients.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of obligations supported under the issued support agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Cash paid included in transaction cost.

+ References

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Average days outstanding for borrowings having an initial term of less than one year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Long-Term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. This does not include advances to clients.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 2

-Article 6

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (c)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

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- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Month, date and year in which the acquirer obtains control of the acquiree.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6909708&loc=d3e848-128460

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

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-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 6

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 10, 11

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph b

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Acquisition Date

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6919109

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- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period (for example, cash that was held by the acquired business).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 15, 16, 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3179-108585

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Reflects the calculation as of the balance sheet date of the average interest rate weighted by the amount of debt outstanding by type or by instrument at that time.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04.(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24072-122690

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing after five years following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

+ References

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Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing in year Five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

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Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

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Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt of the registrant maturing within one year following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements, if not separately disclosed in the consolidated statements.

+ References

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- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph a

-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),16(a)(1))

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

-Subparagraph 2, 3

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Subparagraph a(1)

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For the form of debt having an initial term of less than one year or less than the normal operating cycle, if longer, average borrowings during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of statutory capital required to be maintained as of the balance sheet date under prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 60

-Paragraph 60

-Subparagraph h(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details 6) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Nov. 01, 2010
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Effective date of acquisition		November 1, 2010
Total fair value of consideration transferred				$ 16,390,000,000
Short-term debt	686,000,000	306,000,000
Short-term Debt, average daily balance	447,000,000	687,000,000
Short-term Debt Average Days Outstanding	19 days	21 days
Cash received from purchase of businesses	70,000,000	4,175,000,000	0
Parent Company [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to subsidiaries	0	1,275,000,000
Loans to Subsidiaries, Interest Income	40,000,000	63,000,000	50,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year One	797,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Two	749,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Three	1,400,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Four	1,300,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, Year Five	1,500,000,000
Long Term Debt Aggregate Maturities, After Year Five	10,500,000,000
Short-term debt	0	0
Weighted Average Interest Rate			1.25%
Short-term Debt, average daily balance			5,000,000
Short-term Debt Average Days Outstanding			6 days
Cash paid included in transaction cost	0	0	19,000,000
Cash received from purchase of businesses	0	0	0
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - Surplus Note MLIC $775 Million Maturing Dec 2011 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount	775,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	0	775,000,000	775,000,000
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Interest Rate Terms	Six-month LIBOR		6-month LIBOR
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate	1.80%		1.80%
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - Surplus Note MLIC $300 Million Maturing Dec 2011 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount		300,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries			300,000,000
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Interest Rate Terms			6-month LIBOR
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			1.80%
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - Surplus Note MLIC $700 Million Maturing Dec 2009 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount			700,000,000
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - MLIC $400 Million Maturing Dec 2032 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount	400,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	0	400,000,000
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Interest Rate Stated Percentage	7.13%
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - MLIC $100 Million Maturing Jan 2033 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to Subsidiaries, Repayment Amount	100,000,000
Loans to subsidiaries	0	100,000,000
Loans to Subsidiaries Instrument, Interest Rate Stated Percentage	7.13%
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - Credit Draw ALICO $100 Million Maturing November 2011 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to subsidiaries	100,000,000
Parent Company [Member] \| Loans to Subsidiaries - Credit Draw ALICO $270 Million Maturing December 2011 [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Loans to subsidiaries	270,000,000
Parent Company [Member] \| Support Agreement Exeter Obligations [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Aggregate obligation amount guaranteed under support agreement		1,000,000,000
Parent Company [Member] \| Support Agreement MLI and FMLI Capital [Member]
Notes to Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Textuals) [Abstract]
Minimum capital and surplus	$ 10,000,000