Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 1,457	$ 550
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	9,149	13,497
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	33	148
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	970	793
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	23	22
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	137	194
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(12,085)	(13,970)
Purchases of equity securities	(30)	(7)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(524)	(844)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(67)	(66)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(238)	(264)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	437	376
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(275)	(371)
Dividend of subsidiary	(53)	0
Net change in policy loans	(24)	(3)
Net change in short-term investments	487	(1,769)
Net change in other invested assets	(42)	(538)
Other, net	0	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,102)	(2,801)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	12,433	15,211
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(12,397)	(13,982)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	1,388	363
Long-term debt repaid	(268)	(342)
Return of capital	0	(47)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments	54	81
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,210	1,284
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	6	3
Change in cash and cash equivalents	571	(964)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	745	1,928
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,316	964
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Net cash paid during the period for Interest	159	329
Net cash paid during the period for Income tax	69	21
Disposal of subsidiary:
Assets disposed	4,857	0
Liabilities disposed	(4,567)	0
Net assets disposed	290	0
Cash disposed	(53)	0
Dividend of interests in subsidiary	(237)	0
(Gain) loss on dividend of interests in subsidiary	0	0
Capital contribution from MetLife, Inc.	$ 19	$ 0