Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 1,738	$ 1,457
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	14,438	9,149
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	47	33
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	1,188	970
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	47	23
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	90	137
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(12,245)	(12,085)
Purchases of equity securities	(120)	(30)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(563)	(524)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(91)	(67)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(269)	(238)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	93	437
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(561)	(275)
Dividend of subsidiary	0	(53)	[1]
Net change in policy loans	0	(24)
Net change in short-term investments	283	487
Net change in other invested assets	(57)	(42)
Other, net	3	0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,283	(2,102)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	10,444	12,433
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(12,075)	(12,397)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(903)	1,388
Long-term debt repaid	(520)	(268)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments	(17)	54
Dividends on common stock	(624)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,695)	1,210
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	(10)	6
Change in cash and cash equivalents	316	571
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	895	745
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,211	1,316
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid for Interest	133	159
Net cash paid (received) for Income tax	94	69
Assets disposed	0	4,857	[1]
Liabilities disposed	0	(4,567)	[1]
Net assets disposed	0	290	[1]
Cash disposed	0	(53)	[1]
Dividend of interests in subsidiary	0	(237)	[1]
(Gain) loss on dividend of interests in subsidiary	0	0	[1]
Capital contribution from MetLife, Inc.	$ 2	$ 19

[1] See Note 3 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the 2012 Annual Report.