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Assumed Other Expenses - Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services assumed from other insurers as a result of reinsurance arrangements.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_AssumedOtherExpenses
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Universal life and investment-type product policy fees ceded to other insurers as a result of reinsurance agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_CededInsuranceCommissionsAndFees
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Ceded Other Expenses - Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services ceded to other insurers as a result of reinsurance arrangements.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_CededOtherExpenses
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Fees, commissions and other revenues assumed from other insurers as a result of reinsurance arrangements.

No definition available.

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Universal life and investment-type product policy fees for all insurance before adding amounts assumed from other insurers or subtracting amounts ceded to other insurers.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Direct Other Expenses - Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Before adding selling, general and administrative expense assumed from other insurers or subtracting any amounts ceded to other insurers.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_DirectOtherExpenses
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Market Risk Benefit, Change in Fair Value, Gain (Loss), Assumed

No definition available.

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Market Risk Benefit, Change in Fair Value, Gain (Loss), Ceded

No definition available.

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Market Risk Benefit, Change in Fair Value, Gain (Loss), Direct

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_MarketRiskBenefitChangeInFairValueGainLossDirect
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Fees, commissions and other revenues ceded to other insurers as a result of reinsurance agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_OtherIncomeCeded
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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Fees, commissions and other revenues earned from all insurance before adding amounts assumed from other insurers or subtracting amounts ceded to other insurers.

No definition available.

Name:	bhl_OtherIncomeDirect
Namespace Prefix:	bhl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Premiums Earned [Abstract]

No definition available.

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Universal Life And Investment-Type Product Policy Fees [Abstract]

No definition available.

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Amount of earned premiums assumed from other entities.

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Amount of earned premiums ceded to other entities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
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-Publisher FASB
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 944
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483586/944-220-S99-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479655/944-605-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
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-Topic 944
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Amount, before premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned.

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Income from agency and brokerage operations (includes sales of annuities and supplemental contracts); service charges, commissions, and fees from the sale of insurance and related services; and management fees from separate accounts, deferred annuities, and universal life products.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MarketRiskBenefitAbstract
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Amount of gain (loss) from (increase) decrease in fair value of contract or contract feature in long-duration contract issued by insurance entity that both protects contract holder from other-than-nominal capital market risk and exposes insurance entity to other-than-nominal capital market risk. Excludes change attributable to instrument-specific credit risk.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480112/944-40-45-3

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Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingExpenses
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Balance Type:	debit
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No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherExpensesAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Amount of revenue and income classified as other.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(Column E)(2))
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 320
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-14(Column E)(Footnote 6)(b))
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(4))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483586/944-220-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(1)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147483575/946-220-S99-1

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No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherIncomeAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredAbstract
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Amount, before effect of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to provision for policy benefits and costs incurred.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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Amount, after effects of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to the provision for policy benefits and costs incurred.

Name:	us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet
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Amount, after premiums ceded to other entities and premiums assumed by the entity, of premiums earned.

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Amount of policy benefits and costs incurred for policies assumed.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479838/944-20-50-3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(5))
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Name:	us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountAssumed
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Amount of reduction of provision for policy benefits and costs incurred for policies ceded.