Equity (Statutory Net Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Parent Company
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory net income (loss)	$ 1,074	$ (1,104)	$ (425)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory net income (loss)	$ (139)	$ 19	$ 22

Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(23)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration