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Investments (Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-For-Sale - Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities      
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities $ 188,911us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities $ 173,746us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities  
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss 66mlic_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsOnDebtSecuritiesTransferredToOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss 149mlic_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsOnDebtSecuritiesTransferredToOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss 256mlic_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsOnDebtSecuritiesTransferredToOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Asset-backed Securities [Member]      
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities      
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 8,226us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
7,824us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
 
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss 0mlic_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsOnDebtSecuritiesTransferredToOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
(1)mlic_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsOnDebtSecuritiesTransferredToOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
 
Gross Unrealized Gain 102mlic_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
151mlic_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMember
 
Fixed maturity securities      
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities      
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities 6us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
38us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
 
Gross Unrealized Gain $ 5mlic_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
$ 12mlic_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember