2.4.0.82405410 - Disclosure - Derivatives (Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$I2013Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000733076instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$I2012Q4http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000733076instant2012-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_CreditDerivativesLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Credit Derivatives [Line Items]2false 4us-gaap_DerivativeNetLiabilityPositionAggregateFairValueus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse118000000118USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse143000000143USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives in Net Liability Position3false 4us-gaap_AdditionalCollateralAggregateFairValueus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse10000001USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate fair value of additional assets that would be required to be posted as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the end of the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false2Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A One Notch Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating4false 4us-gaap_AssetsNeededForImmediateSettlementAggregateFairValueus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse1100000011USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2800000028USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate fair value of assets needed to immediately settle the derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features if the credit-risk-related contingent features were triggered at the end of the reporting period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 false2Fair Value Of Incremental Collateral Provided Upon A Downgrade In The Company's Credit Rating to a Level that Triggers Full Overnight Collateralization or Termination of the Derivative Position5false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3false USDtruefalse$I2013Q2_us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis_us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000733076instant2013-06-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFixed Maturities [Member]us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMemberus-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0Fixed Maturities [Member]6true 3us-gaap_CreditDerivativesLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Credit Derivatives [Line Items]7false 4us-gaap_CollateralAlreadyPostedAggregateFairValueus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse117000000117USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse121000000121USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44D -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. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4H -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624258-113959 false2Estimated Fair Value of Collateral ProvidedfalseDerivatives (Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.metlife.com/role/DerivativesCreditRiskOnFreestandingDerivativesDetails27