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Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets $ 7,104us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset $ 4,141us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset  
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities 2,732us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability 2,322us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability  
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 7,419us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted 6,600us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted  
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 125us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue 123us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue  
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Embedded derivatives (170)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet 135us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet 598us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]      
Net amounts reclassified into net derivatives gains (losses) on discontinued cash flow hedges (14)us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet 0us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet 1us-gaap_GainLossOnDiscontinuationOfCashFlowHedgeDueToForecastedTransactionProbableOfNotOccurringNet
Hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for specific length of time 6 years 7 years  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss 1,600mlic_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss 400mlic_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss  
Deferred net gains (losses) expected to be reclassified to earnings 26us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths    
Potential future recoveries available to offset maximum amount of future payments under credit default swaps 60mlic_CreditDerivativePurchaseProtectionOffset 70mlic_CreditDerivativePurchaseProtectionOffset  
Excess cash collateral received on derivatives 0us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash 47us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash  
Excess cash collateral provided on derivatives 31us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash 3us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimCash  
Securities collateral received which the company is permitted to sell or repledge, amount that has been sold or repledged 0us-gaap_CustomerSecuritiesForWhichEntityHasRightToSellOrRepledgeFairValueOfSecuritiesSoldOrRepledged    
Over the Counter [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 243us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= mlic_OverCounterMember
106us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= mlic_OverCounterMember
 
Derivative, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Securities 57us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= mlic_OverCounterMember
25us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= mlic_OverCounterMember
 
Exchange Traded [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives 155us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
106us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
 
Derivative, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Securities 17us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
0us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralRightToReclaimSecurities
/ us-gaap_TransactionTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ExchangeTradedMember
 
Nonperformance Risk [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Embedded derivatives 14us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
(42)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
(71)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
Ceded Guaranteed Minimum Benefit [Member] | Nonperformance Risk [Member]      
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]      
Embedded derivatives (9)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
/ us-gaap_LiabilitiesForGuaranteesOnLongDurationContractsGuaranteeTypeAxis
= mlic_CededGuaranteedMinimumBenefitMember
125us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
/ us-gaap_LiabilitiesForGuaranteesOnLongDurationContractsGuaranteeTypeAxis
= mlic_CededGuaranteedMinimumBenefitMember
122us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
/ us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis
= mlic_NonperformanceRiskMember
/ us-gaap_LiabilitiesForGuaranteesOnLongDurationContractsGuaranteeTypeAxis
= mlic_CededGuaranteedMinimumBenefitMember
Hedge Funds [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps 15us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
10us-gaap_CreditDerivativeMaximumExposureUndiscounted
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
 
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps 1us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
0us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativeLiabilitiesAtFairValue
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
 
Derivative [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Assets Transferred From Affiliates, Estimated Fair Value 740mlic_AssetsTransferredFromAffiliatesEstimatedFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_DerivativeMember
   
Liabilities Transferred From Affiliates Estimated Fair Value 754mlic_LiabilitiesTransferredFromAffiliatesEstimatedFairValue
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_DerivativeMember
   
Accrued Liabilities [Member]      
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]      
Estimated Fair Value Assets 143us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
136us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
 
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities $ 42us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember
$ 27us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesMember