Investments (Invested Assets on Deposit, Held In Trust and Pledged as Collateral) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits)	$ 7,860	$ 7,996
Invested assets held in trust (reinsurance agreements)	5,501	5,592
Invested assets pledged as collateral	14,260	13,920
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral	$ 27,621	$ 27,508

The element presents the invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Invested assets pledged as collateral.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The total amount of cash and securities held by third party trustees pursuant to terms of debt instruments or other agreements as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, which can be used by the trustee only to pay the noncurrent portion of specified obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(b))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(17))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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