Investments (Securities Lending) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$ 3,407	$ 3,646
Security collateral received from counterparties (3)	36	55
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	3,426	3,658
Amortized cost
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Securities on loan: (1)	2,568	3,056
Estimated fair value
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Securities on loan: (1)	$ 3,360	$ 3,628

This element represents the estimated fair value of the securities lending reinvestment portfolio.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_SecuritiesLendingReinvestmentPortfolioEstimatedFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	bhl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of securities loaned to entities in exchange for collateral. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109249958&loc=SL6224234-111729

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226008-175313

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 940
-SubTopic 405
-Section 55
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710563&loc=d3e44140-110984

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesLoaned
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the assets received as collateral against securities loaned to other broker-dealers. Borrowers of securities generally are required to provide collateral to the lenders of securities, commonly cash but sometimes other securities or standby letters of credit, with a value slightly higher than that of the securities borrowed. In instances where the entity is permitted to sell or re-pledge these securities, the entity reports the fair value of the collateral received and the related obligation to return the collateral as a liability.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesReceivedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of liabilities associated with financial assets accounted for as secured borrowings recognized in the transferor's statement of financial position at the end of each period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109249958&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TransfersAccountedForAsSecuredBorrowingsAssociatedLiabilitiesCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis=us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionCostMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionAxis=us-gaap_SecuritiesFinancingTransactionFairValueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: