View Filing Data

Print Document View Excel Document

Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 21, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company
Entity Central Index Key	0000733076
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,000

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $58,599 and $57,289, respectively,)	$ 63,333	$ 59,899
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $212 and $280, respectively)	232	300
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $46 and $40, respectively; includes $115 and $136, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	10,640	9,290
Policy loans	1,106	1,093
Real estate joint ventures	433	215
Other limited partnership interests	1,667	1,639
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $344, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	269	1,272
Other invested assets, principally at estimated fair value	2,448	5,029
Total investments	80,128	78,737
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value(includes $0 and $3,078, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	1,363	5,057
Accrued investment income (includes $1 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	575	668
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	12,918	13,853
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	5,623	6,339
Current income tax recoverable	735	736
Other assets	547	689
Separate account assets	110,156	105,346
Total assets	212,045	211,425
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	35,715	32,752
Policyholder account balances	37,069	36,579
Other policy-related balances	2,720	2,712
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	4,158	7,371
Long-term debt (includes $11 and $23, respectively, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities)	46	1,904
Deferred income tax liability	894	2,451
Other liabilities (includes $0 and $1, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	4,419	5,445
Separate account liabilities	110,156	105,346
Total liabilities	195,177	194,560
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Note 14)
Equity
Common stock, par value $25,000 per share; 4,000 shares authorized; 3,000 shares issued and outstanding	75	75
Additional paid-in capital	19,073	18,461
Retained earnings (deficit)	(4,132)	(2,919)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,837	1,248
Total Brighthouse Life Insurance Company's stockholder's equity	16,853	16,865
Noncontrolling interests	15	0
Total equity	16,868	16,865
Total liabilities and equity	$ 212,045	$ 211,425

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 58,599	$ 57,289
Cost of equity securities available-for-sale	212	280
Mortgage loans valuation allowances	46	40
Mortgage loans, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	10,640	9,290
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $344, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	269	1,272
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value(includes $0 and $3,078, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	1,363	5,057
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities	575	668
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	46	1,904
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 4,419	$ 5,445
Equity
Common stock, par value	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Common stock, shares authorized	4,000	4,000
Common stock, shares issued	3,000	3,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	3,000	3,000
Variable interest entities
Assets
Mortgage loans, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	$ 115	$ 136
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value (includes $0 and $344, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	0	344
Cash and cash equivalents, principally at estimated fair value(includes $0 and $3,078, respectively, relating to variable interest entities)	0	3,078
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities	1	1
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	11	23
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	$ 0	$ 1

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues
Premiums	$ 828	$ 1,180	$ 1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	3,156	3,097	3,293
Net investment income	2,973	3,111	3,001
Other revenues	336	709	433
Net investment gains (losses):
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities	(1)	(19)	(23)
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)	0	(3)	(8)
Other net investment gains (losses)	(26)	(45)	36
Total net investment gains (losses)	(27)	(67)	5
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,468)	(5,770)	(497)
Total revenues	5,798	2,260	7,872
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	3,594	3,738	3,087
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	1,076	1,131	1,224
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	916	(225)	673
Other expenses	1,833	2,081	1,723
Total expenses	7,419	6,725	6,707
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(1,621)	(4,465)	1,165
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(738)	(1,690)	247
Net income (loss)	$ (883)	$ (2,775)	$ 918

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	$ (883)	$ (2,775)	$ 918
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of related offsets	590	(535)	(1,681)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives	(166)	27	89
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9	(3)	(29)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before income tax	433	(511)	(1,621)
Income tax (expense) benefit related to items of other comprehensive income (loss)	156	165	593
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	589	(346)	(1,028)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (294)	$ (3,121)	$ (110)

Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Deficit)	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Brighthouse Life Insurance Company [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Total equity	$ 19,094						$ 0
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 75	$ 16,698	$ (301)	$ 2,622	$ 19,094
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	202		202			202
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	(500)			(500)		(500)
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(50)		(50)			(50)
Net income (loss)	918			918		918
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(1,028)				(1,028)	(1,028)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		75	16,850	117	1,594	18,636
Total equity	18,636						0
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	1,637		1,637			1,637
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	(261)			(261)		(261)
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(26)		(26)			(26)
Net income (loss)	(2,775)			(2,775)		(2,775)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	(346)				(346)	(346)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	16,865	75	18,461	(2,919)	1,248	16,865
Total equity	16,865						0
Capital contributions from MetLife, Inc.	202		202			202
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	(2,737)		(2,737)			(2,737)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Capital Contributions from Parent	3,147		3,147			3,147
Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease)	15					0	15
Net income (loss)	(883)			(883)		(883)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax	259				259	259
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	16,853	$ 75	$ 19,073	(4,132)	1,837	16,853
Total equity	16,868						$ 15
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 0			$ (330)	$ 330	$ 0

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (883)	$ (2,775)	$ 918
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expenses	25	56	25
Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts associated with investments, net	(271)	(231)	(233)
(Gains) losses on investments, net	27	67	(5)
(Gains) losses on derivatives, net	3,084	6,998	1,321
(Income) loss from equity method investments, net of dividends and distributions	(50)	26	110
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	1,076	1,131	1,224
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	(3,156)	(3,097)	(3,293)
Goodwill impairment	0	381	0
Change in accrued investment income	(80)	(35)	10
Change in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	55	45	(403)
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired, net	660	(555)	273
Change in income tax	0	(1,830)	724
Change in other assets	2,176	2,152	2,231
Change in future policy benefits and other policy-related balances	1,522	2,404	2,283
Change in other liabilities	(314)	(590)	(206)
Other, net	75	(16)	13
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,946	4,131	4,992
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	16,409	45,460	38,341
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	97	224	308
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	761	1,560	1,083
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	77	446	512
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	262	417	425
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(17,811)	(39,097)	(43,502)
Purchases of equity securities	(2)	(58)	(273)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(2,044)	(2,847)	(2,560)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(268)	(75)	(109)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(263)	(203)	(233)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,859	707	224
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,829)	(2,764)	(869)
Cash received under repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Cash received under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	42	0	0
Sale of loans to a former affiliate	0	0	26
Receipts on loans to a former affiliate	0	50	0
Net change in policy loans	(14)	109	(72)
Net change in short-term investments	1,057	596	(343)
Net change in other invested assets	(16)	7	(55)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,683)	4,532	(7,097)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	4,381	10,040	20,269
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(3,114)	(12,292)	(21,078)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(3,139)	(3,251)	3,121
Long-term debt issued	0	0	175
Long-term debt repaid	(13)	(26)	(235)
Returns of capital (Note 3)	(3,425)	0	0
Capital contributions	1,300	1,688	406
Capital contribution associated with the sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	202	0	0
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	0	(261)	(500)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(149)	(1,011)	(97)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,957)	(5,113)	2,061
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	0	0	(2)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(3,694)	3,550	(46)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	5,057	1,507	1,553
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,363	5,057	1,507
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Net cash paid (received) for interest	81	130	137
Net cash paid (received) for income tax	(684)	150	(463)
Non-cash transactions:
Transfer of fixed maturity securities from former affiliates	0	4,030	0
Transfer of mortgage loans from former affiliates	0	662	0
Transfer of short-term investments from former affiliates	0	94	0
Transfer of fixed maturity securities to former affiliates	293	346	0
Reduction of other invested assets in connection with affiliated reinsurance transactions	0	676	0
Reduction of policyholder account balances in connection with reinsurance transactions	$ 293	$ 0	$ 0

Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1. Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business

“BLIC” and the “Company” refer to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, a Delaware corporation originally incorporated in Connecticut in 1863, and its subsidiaries. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brighthouse Holdings, LLC, which until July 28, 2017 was a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (MetLife, Inc., together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, “MetLife”).

The Company offers a range of individual annuities and individual life insurance products. The Company reports results through three segments: Annuities, Life and Run-off. In addition, the Company reports certain of its results in Corporate & Other.

On January 12, 2016, MetLife, Inc. announced its plan to pursue the separation of a substantial portion of its former U.S. retail business (the “Separation”). Additionally, on July 21, 2016, MetLife, Inc. announced that the separated business would be rebranded as “Brighthouse Financial.” Effective March 6, 2017, and in connection with the Separation, the Company changed its name from MetLife Insurance Company USA to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company.

On October 5, 2016, Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, “Brighthouse”), which until the completion of the Separation on August 4, 2017, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., filed a registration statement on Form 10 (as amended, the “Form 10”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that was declared effective by the SEC on July 6, 2017. The Form 10 disclosed MetLife, Inc.’s plans to undertake several actions, including an internal reorganization involving its U.S. retail business (the “Restructuring”) and include Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and certain affiliates in the planned separated business and distribute at least 80.1% of the shares of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s common stock on a pro rata basis to the holders of MetLife, Inc. common stock. In connection with the Restructuring, effective April 2017, following receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, MetLife, Inc. contributed certain affiliated reinsurance companies and Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY (“BHNY”) to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (the “Contribution Transactions”). The affiliated reinsurance companies were then merged into Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware (“BRCD”), a licensed reinsurance subsidiary of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company. See Note 3 for further information on this change, which was applied retrospectively. On July 28, 2017, MetLife, Inc. contributed Brighthouse Holdings, LLC to Brighthouse Financial, Inc., resulting in Brighthouse Life Insurance Company becoming an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. On August 4, 2017, MetLife, Inc. completed the Separation through a distribution of 96,776,670 of the 119,773,106 shares of the common stock of Brighthouse Financial, Inc., representing 80.8% of MetLife Inc.’s interest in Brighthouse Financial, Inc., to holders of MetLife, Inc. common stock.

Basis of Presentation

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported on the consolidated financial statements. In applying these policies and estimates, management makes subjective and complex judgments that frequently require assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain. Many of these policies, estimates and related judgments are common in the insurance and financial services industries; others are specific to the Company’s business and operations. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, as well as partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company has control, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for equity securities when it has significant influence or at least 20% interest and for real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests (“investee”) when it has more than a minor ownership interest or more than a minor influence over the investee’s operations. The Company generally recognizes its share of the investee’s earnings on a three-month lag in instances where the investee’s financial information is not sufficiently timely or when the investee’s reporting period differs from the Company’s reporting period. The Company uses the cost method of accounting for investments in which it has virtually no influence over the investee’s operations.

Since the Company is a member of a controlled group of affiliated companies, its results may not be indicative of those of a stand-alone entity.

Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the prior years’ consolidated financial statements and related footnotes thereto have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation as discussed throughout the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The following are the Company’s significant accounting policies with references to notes providing additional information on such policies and critical accounting estimates relating to such policies.



Accounting Policy	Note
Insurance	4
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Intangibles	5
Reinsurance	6
Investments	7
Derivatives	8
Fair Value	9
Income Tax	13
Litigation Contingencies	14

Insurance

Future Policy Benefit Liabilities and Policyholder Account Balances

The Company establishes liabilities for future amounts payable under insurance policies. Insurance liabilities are generally calculated as the present value of future expected benefits to be paid, reduced by the present value of future expected premiums. Such liabilities are established based on methods and underlying assumptions that are in accordance with GAAP and applicable actuarial standards. The principal assumptions used in the establishment of liabilities for future policy benefits are mortality, morbidity, benefit utilization and withdrawals, policy lapse, retirement, disability incidence, disability terminations, investment returns, inflation, expenses and other contingent events as appropriate to the respective product type.

For traditional long duration insurance contracts (term and whole-life insurance and immediate annuities), assumptions are determined at issuance of the policy and remain “locked-in” unless a premium deficiency exists. A premium deficiency exists when the liability for future policy benefits plus the present value of expected future gross premiums are less than expected future benefits and expenses (based on current assumptions). When a premium deficiency exists, the Company will reduce any deferred acquisition costs and may also establish an additional liability to eliminate the deficiency. To assess whether a premium deficiency exists, the Company groups insurance contracts based on the manner acquired, serviced and the measurement of profitability. In applying the profitability criteria, groupings are limited by segment.

Liabilities for universal life insurance with secondary guarantees are determined by estimating the expected value of death benefits payable when the account balance is projected to be zero and recognizing those benefits ratably over the contract period based on total expected assessments. The assumptions used in estimating the secondary guarantee liabilities are consistent with those used for amortizing deferred policy acquisition costs (“DAC”), and are reviewed and updated at least annually. The assumptions of investment performance and volatility for variable products are consistent with historical experience of the appropriate underlying equity indices, such as the Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings (“S&P”) 500 Index. The benefits used in calculating the liabilities are based on the average benefits payable over a range of scenarios.

In certain cases, the liability for an insurance product may be sufficient in the aggregate, but the pattern of future earnings may result in profits followed by losses. In these situations, the Company may establish an additional liability to offset the losses that are expected to be recognized in later years.

Policyholder account balances relate to customer deposits on universal life insurance and fixed and variable deferred annuity contracts and are equal to the sum of deposits, plus interest credited, less charges and withdrawals.

See “— Variable Annuity Guarantees” for additional information on the Company’s variable annuity guarantee features that are accounted for as insurance liabilities and recorded in future policy benefits, as well as the guarantee features that are accounted for at fair value as embedded derivatives and recorded in policyholder account balances.

Recognition of Insurance Revenues and Deposits

Premiums related to traditional life insurance and annuity contracts with life contingencies are recognized as revenues when due from policyholders. When premiums are due over a significantly shorter period than the period over which policyholder benefits are incurred, any excess profit is deferred and recognized into earnings in proportion to insurance in-force or, for annuities, the amount of expected future policy benefit payments.

Deposits related to universal life insurance, fixed and variable deferred annuity contracts and investment-type products are credited to policyholder account balances. Revenues from such contracts consist of asset-based investment management fees, mortality charges, risk charges, policy administration fees and surrender charges. These fees are recognized when assessed to the contract holder and are included in universal life and investment-type product policy fees on the statements of operations.

Premiums, policy fees, policyholder benefits and expenses are presented net of reinsurance.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Intangibles

The Company incurs significant costs in connection with acquiring new and renewal insurance business. Costs that are related directly to the successful acquisition or renewal of insurance contracts are capitalized as DAC. Such costs include:


•	incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, such as commissions;


•	the portion of an employee’s total compensation and benefits related to time spent selling, underwriting or processing the issuance of new and renewal insurance business only with respect to actual policies acquired or renewed; and


•	other essential direct costs that would not have been incurred had a policy not been acquired or renewed;

All other acquisition-related costs, including those related to general advertising and solicitation, market research, agent training, product development, unsuccessful sales and underwriting efforts, as well as all indirect costs, are expensed as incurred.

Value of business acquired (“VOBA”) is an intangible asset resulting from a business combination that represents the excess of book value over the estimated fair value of acquired insurance, annuity, and investment-type contracts in-force as of the acquisition date. The estimated fair value of the acquired liabilities is based on projections, by each block of business, of future policy and contract charges, premiums, mortality and morbidity, separate account performance, surrenders, operating expenses, investment returns, nonperformance risk adjustment and other factors. Actual experience on the purchased business may vary from these projections.

DAC and VOBA on traditional long-duration insurance contracts is amortized based on actual and expected future gross premiums while DAC and VOBA on fixed and variable universal life insurance and deferred annuities is amortized based on estimated gross profits. The recoverability of DAC and VOBA is dependent upon the future profitability of the related business. DAC and VOBA are aggregated on the financial statements for reporting purposes.

See Note 5 for additional information on DAC and VOBA amortization.

The Company also has deferred sales inducements (“DSI”) and value of distribution agreements (“VODA”) which are included in other assets. The Company defers sales inducements and amortizes them over the life of the policy using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. The amortization of DSI is included in policyholder benefits and claims. VODA represents the present value of expected future profits associated with the expected future business derived from the distribution agreements acquired as part of a business combination. The VODA associated with past business combinations is amortized over useful lives ranging from 10 to 40 years and such amortization is included in other expenses. Each year, or more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment exists, the Company reviews DSI and VODA to determine whether the assets are impaired.

Reinsurance

For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Cessions under reinsurance agreements do not discharge the Company’s obligations as the primary insurer. The Company reviews all contractual features, including those that may limit the amount of insurance risk to which the reinsurer is subject or features that delay the timely reimbursement of claims.

For reinsurance of existing in-force blocks of long-duration contracts that transfer significant insurance risk, the difference, if any, between the amounts paid (received), and the liabilities ceded (assumed) related to the underlying contracts is considered the net cost of reinsurance at the inception of the reinsurance agreement. The net cost of reinsurance is recorded as an adjustment to DAC when there is a gain at inception on the ceding entity and to other liabilities when there is a loss at inception. The net cost of reinsurance is recognized as a component of other expenses when there is a gain at inception and as policyholder benefits and claims when there is a loss and is subsequently amortized on a basis consistent with the methodology used for amortizing DAC related to the underlying reinsured contracts. Subsequent amounts paid (received) on the reinsurance of in-force blocks, as well as amounts paid (received) related to new business, are recorded as ceded (assumed) premiums and ceded (assumed) premiums, reinsurance and other receivables (future policy benefits) are established.

Amounts currently recoverable under reinsurance agreements are included in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables and amounts currently payable are included in other liabilities. Assets and liabilities relating to reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurer may be recorded net on the balance sheet, if a right of offset exists within the reinsurance agreement. If reinsurers do not meet their obligations to the Company under the terms of the reinsurance agreements, reinsurance recoverable balances could become uncollectible. In such instances, reinsurance recoverable balances are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance.

The funds withheld liability represents amounts withheld by the Company in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreements. Under certain reinsurance agreements, the Company withholds the funds rather than transferring the underlying investments and, as a result, records funds withheld liability within other liabilities. The Company recognizes interest on funds withheld, included in other expenses, at rates defined by the terms of the agreement which may be contractually specified or directly related to the investment portfolio.

Premiums, fees and policyholder benefits and claims include amounts assumed under reinsurance agreements and are net of reinsurance ceded. Amounts received from reinsurers for policy administration are reported in other revenues. With respect to guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIBs”), a portion of the directly written GMIBs are accounted for as insurance liabilities, but the associated reinsurance agreements contain embedded derivatives. These embedded derivatives are included in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses).

If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company records the agreement using the deposit method of accounting. Deposits received are included in other liabilities and deposits made are included within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables. As amounts are paid or received, consistent with the underlying contracts, the deposit assets or liabilities are adjusted. Interest on such deposits is recorded as other revenues or other expenses, as appropriate. Periodically, the Company evaluates the adequacy of the expected payments or recoveries and adjusts the deposit asset or liability through other revenues or other expenses, as appropriate. Certain previously assumed non-life contingent portion of guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWBs”), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMABs”) and GMIBs are also accounted for as embedded derivatives with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses).

Variable Annuity Guarantees

The Company issues directly and previously assumed from a former affiliate through reinsurance certain variable annuity products with guaranteed minimum benefits that provide the policyholder a minimum return based on their initial deposit (the “Benefit Base”) less withdrawals. In some cases, the Benefit Base may be increased by additional deposits, bonus amounts, accruals or optional market value step-ups.

Certain of the Company’s variable annuity guarantee features are accounted for as insurance liabilities and recorded in future policy benefits while others are accounted for at fair value as embedded derivatives and recorded in policyholder account balances. Generally, a guarantee is accounted for as an insurance liability if the guarantee is paid only upon either (i) the occurrence of a specific insurable event, or (ii) annuitization. Alternatively, a guarantee is accounted for as an embedded derivative if a guarantee is paid without requiring (i) the occurrence of specific insurable event, or (ii) the policyholder to annuitize, that is, the policyholder can receive the guarantee on a net basis. In certain cases, a guarantee may have elements of both an insurance liability and an embedded derivative and in such cases the guarantee is split and accounted for under both models. Further, changes in assumptions, principally involving behavior, can result in a change of expected future cash outflows of a guarantee between portions accounted for as insurance liabilities and portions accounted for as embedded derivatives.

Guarantees accounted for as insurance liabilities in future policy benefits include guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDBs”), the life contingent portion of the GMWBs and the portion of the GMIBs that require annuitization, as well as the life contingent portion of the expected annuitization when the policyholder is forced into an annuitization upon depletion of their account value.

These insurance liabilities are accrued over the accumulation phase of the contract in proportion to actual and future expected policy assessments based on the level of guaranteed minimum benefits generated using multiple scenarios of separate account returns. The scenarios are based on best estimate assumptions consistent with those used to amortize DAC. When current estimates of future benefits exceed those previously projected or when current estimates of future assessments are lower than those previously projected, liabilities will increase, resulting in a current period charge to net income. The opposite result occurs when the current estimates of future benefits are lower than those previously projected or when current estimates of future assessments exceed those previously projected. At each reporting period, the actual amount of business remaining in-force is updated, which impacts expected future assessments and the projection of estimated future benefits resulting in a current period charge or increase to earnings. See Note 4 for additional details of guarantees accounted for as insurance liabilities.

Guarantees accounted for as embedded derivatives in policyholder account balances include the non-life contingent portion of GMWBs, GMABs, and for GMIBs the non-life contingent portion of the expected annuitization when the policyholder is forced into an annuitization upon depletion of their account value, as well as the Guaranteed Principal Option.

The estimated fair values of guarantees accounted for as embedded derivatives are determined based on the present value of projected future benefits minus the present value of projected future fees. At policy inception, the Company attributes to the embedded derivative a portion of the projected future guarantee fees to be collected from the policyholder equal to the present value of projected future guaranteed benefits. Any additional fees represent “excess” fees and are reported in universal life and investment-type product policy fees. In valuing the embedded derivative, the percentage of fees included in the fair value measurement is locked-in at inception.

The projections of future benefits and future fees require capital market and actuarial assumptions including expectations concerning policyholder behavior. A risk neutral valuation methodology is used to project the cash flows from the guarantees under multiple capital market scenarios to determine an economic liability. The reported estimated fair value is then determined by taking the present value of these risk-free generated cash flows using a discount rate that incorporates a spread over the risk-free rate to reflect the Company’s nonperformance risk and adding a risk margin. For more information on the determination of estimated fair value. See Note 9.

Investments

Net Investment Income and Net Investment Gains (Losses)

Income from investments is reported within net investment income, unless otherwise stated herein. Gains and losses on sales of investments, impairment losses and changes in valuation allowances are reported within net investment gains (losses), unless otherwise stated herein.

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

The Company’s fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) and are reported at their estimated fair value. Unrealized investment gains and losses on these securities are recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) (“OCI”), net of policy-related amounts and deferred income taxes. All security transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Investment gains and losses on sales are determined on a specific identification basis.

Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Interest income is recognized using an effective yield method giving effect to amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts and is based on the estimated economic life of the securities, which for residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) and asset-backed securities (“ABS”) (collectively, “Structured Securities”) considers the estimated timing and amount of prepayments of the underlying loans. The amortization of premium and accretion of discount of fixed maturity securities also takes into consideration call and maturity dates.

Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on Structured Securities considers the estimated timing and amount of prepayments of the underlying loans. Actual prepayment experience is periodically reviewed and effective yields are recalculated when differences arise between the originally anticipated and the actual prepayments received and currently anticipated. Prepayment assumptions for Structured Securities are estimated using inputs obtained from third-party specialists and based on management’s knowledge of the current market. For credit-sensitive Structured Securities and certain prepayment-sensitive securities, the effective yield is recalculated on a prospective basis. For all other Structured Securities, the effective yield is recalculated on a retrospective basis.

The Company periodically evaluates fixed maturity and equity securities for impairment. The assessment of whether impairments have occurred is based on management’s case-by-case evaluation of the underlying reasons for the decline in estimated fair value, as well as an analysis of the gross unrealized losses by severity and/or age. See Note 7 “— Evaluation of AFS Securities for OTTI and Evaluating Temporarily Impaired AFS Securities.”

For fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position, an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) is recognized in earnings when it is anticipated that the amortized cost will not be recovered. When either: (i) the Company has the intent to sell the security; or (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery, the OTTI recognized in earnings is the entire difference between the security’s amortized cost and estimated fair value. If neither of these conditions exists, the difference between the amortized cost of the security and the present value of projected future cash flows expected to be collected is recognized as an OTTI in earnings (“credit loss”). If the estimated fair value is less than the present value of projected future cash flows expected to be collected, this portion of OTTI related to other-than-credit factors (“noncredit loss”) is recorded in OCI.

Mortgage Loans

Mortgage loans are stated at unpaid principal balance, adjusted for any unamortized premium or discount, and any deferred fees or expenses, and are net of valuation allowances. Interest income and prepayment fees are recognized when earned. Interest income is recognized using an effective yield method giving effect to amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. See Note 7 for information on impairments on mortgage loans.

Also included in mortgage loans are commercial mortgage loans held by consolidated securitization entities (“CSEs”) for which the fair value option (“FVO”) was elected, which are stated at estimated fair value. Changes in estimated fair value are recognized in net investment gains (losses) for commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs.

Policy Loans

Policy loans are stated at unpaid principal balances. Interest income is recorded as earned using the contractual interest rate. Generally, accrued interest is capitalized on the policy’s anniversary date. Any unpaid principal and accrued interest is deducted from the cash surrender value or the death benefit prior to settlement of the insurance policy.

Real Estate Joint Ventures and Other Limited Partnership Interests

The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments when it has more than a minor ownership interest or more than a minor influence over the investee’s operations; while the cost method is used when the Company has virtually no influence over the investee’s operations. The Company generally recognizes its share of the equity method investee’s earnings on a three-month lag in instances where the investee’s financial information is not sufficiently timely or when the investee’s reporting period differs from the Company’s reporting period; while distributions on cost method investments are recognized as earned or received.

The Company routinely evaluates such investments for impairment. For equity method investees, the Company considers financial and other information provided by the investee, other known information and inherent risks in the underlying investments, as well as future capital commitments, in determining whether an impairment has occurred. The Company considers its cost method investments for impairment when the carrying value of such investments exceeds the net asset value (“NAV”). The Company takes into consideration the severity and duration of this excess when determining whether the cost method investment is impaired.

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments include securities and other investments with remaining maturities of one year or less, but greater than three months, at the time of purchase and are stated at estimated fair value or amortized cost, which approximates estimated fair value. Short-term investments also include investments in affiliated money market pools.

Other Invested Assets

Other invested assets consist principally of freestanding derivatives with positive estimated fair values which are described in “—Derivatives” below.

Securities Lending Program

Securities lending transactions, whereby blocks of securities are loaned to third parties, primarily brokerage firms and commercial banks, are treated as financing arrangements and the associated liability is recorded at the amount of cash received. Income and expenses associated with securities lending transactions are reported as investment income and investment expense, respectively, within net investment income.

The Company obtains collateral at the inception of the loan, usually cash, in an amount generally equal to 102% of the estimated fair value of the securities loaned, and maintains it at a level greater than or equal to 100% for the duration of the loan. The Company monitors the estimated fair value of the securities loaned on a daily basis and additional collateral is obtained as necessary throughout the duration of the loan. Securities loaned under such transactions may be sold or repledged by the transferee. The Company is liable to return to the counterparties the cash collateral received.

Derivatives

Freestanding Derivatives

Freestanding derivatives are carried on the Company’s balance sheet either as assets within other invested assets or as liabilities within other liabilities at estimated fair value. The Company does not offset the estimated fair value amounts recognized for derivatives executed with the same counterparty under the same master netting agreement.

Accruals on derivatives are generally recorded in accrued investment income or within other liabilities. However, accruals that are not scheduled to settle within one year are included with the derivatives carrying value in other invested assets or other liabilities.

If a derivative is not designated as an accounting hedge or its use in managing risk does not qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the estimated fair value of the derivative are reported in net derivative gains (losses) except for economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees which are presented in future policy benefits and claims and economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures which are presented in net investment income.

Hedge Accounting

The Company primarily designates derivatives as a hedge of a forecasted transaction or a variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash flow hedge). When a derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in fair value are recorded in OCI and subsequently reclassified into the statement of operations when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item. The Company also designates derivatives as a hedge of the estimated fair value of a recognized asset or liabilities (fair value hedge). When a derivative is designated as fair value hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in fair value are recorded in net derivative gains (losses), consistent with the change in estimated fair value of the hedged item attributable to the designated risk being hedged.

To qualify for hedge accounting, at the inception of the hedging relationship, the Company formally documents its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction, as well as its designation of the hedge. In its hedge documentation, the Company sets forth how the hedging instrument is expected to hedge the designated risks related to the hedged item and sets forth the method that will be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness and the method that will be used to measure ineffectiveness. A derivative designated as a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed at inception and at least quarterly throughout the life of the designated hedging relationship.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when: (i) it is determined that the derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item; (ii) the derivative expires, is sold, terminated, or exercised; (iii) it is no longer probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur; or (iv) the derivative is de-designated as a hedging instrument.

When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is determined that the derivative is not highly effective in offsetting changes in the estimated fair value or cash flows of a hedged item, the derivative continues to be carried on the balance sheet at its estimated fair value, with changes in estimated fair value recognized in net derivative gains (losses). The carrying value of the hedged recognized asset or liability under a fair value hedge is no longer adjusted for changes in its estimated fair value due to the hedged risk, and the cumulative adjustment to its carrying value is amortized into income over the remaining life of the hedged item. Provided the hedged forecasted transaction is still probable of occurrence, the changes in estimated fair value of derivatives recorded in OCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges are released into the statement of operations when the Company’s earnings are affected by the variability in cash flows of the hedged item.

In all other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, the derivative is carried at its estimated fair value on the balance sheet, with changes in its estimated fair value recognized in the current period as net derivative gains (losses).

Embedded Derivatives

The Company sells variable annuities and issues certain insurance products and investment contracts and is a party to certain reinsurance agreements that have embedded derivatives. The Company assesses each identified embedded derivative to determine whether it is required to be bifurcated. The embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract and accounted for as a freestanding derivative if:


•	the combined instrument is not accounted for in its entirety at estimated fair value with changes in estimated fair value recorded in earnings;


•	the terms of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract; and


•	a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would qualify as a derivative instrument.

Such embedded derivatives are carried on the balance sheet at estimated fair value with the host contract and changes in their estimated fair value are generally reported in net derivative gains (losses), except for those in policyholder benefits and claims related to ceded reinsurance of GMIB.

See “— Variable Annuity Guarantees” for additional information on the accounting policy for embedded derivatives bifurcated from variable annuity host contracts.

Fair Value

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. In most cases, the exit price and the transaction (or entry) price will be the same at initial recognition.

In determining the estimated fair value of the Company’s investments, fair values are based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical investments in active markets that are readily and regularly obtainable. When such quoted prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, quoted prices for similar but not identical investments, or other observable inputs. If these inputs are not available, or observable inputs are not determinable, unobservable inputs and/or adjustments to observable inputs requiring management judgment are used to determine the estimated fair value of investments.

Separate Accounts

Separate accounts underlying the Company’s variable life and annuity contracts are reported at fair value. Assets supporting the contract liabilities are legally insulated from the Company’s general account liabilities. Investments in these separate accounts are directed by the contract holder and all investment performance, net of contract fees and assessments, is passed through to the contract holder. Investment performance and the corresponding amounts credited to contract holders of such separate accounts are offset within the same line on the statements of operations.

Separate accounts that do not pass all investment performance to the contract holder, including those underlying the index-linked annuities, are combined on a line-by-line basis with the Company’s general account assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The accounting for investments in these separate accounts is consistent with the methodologies described herein for similar financial instruments held within the general account.

The Company receives asset-based distribution and service fees from mutual funds available to the variable life and annuity contract holders. These fees are recognized in the period in which the related services are performed and are included in other revenues in the statement of operations.

Income Tax

Income taxes as presented herein attribute current and deferred income taxes of MetLife, Inc., for periods up until the Separation, to Brighthouse Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries in a manner that is systematic, rational and consistent with the asset and liability method prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance Accounting Standards Codification 740 — Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). The Company’s income tax provision was prepared following the modified separate return method. The modified separate return method applies ASC 740 to the standalone financial statements of each member of the consolidated group as if the group member were a separate taxpayer and a standalone enterprise, after providing benefits for losses. The Company’s accounting for income taxes represents management’s best estimate of various events and transactions.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities resulting from temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities are measured at the balance sheet date using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The realization of deferred tax assets depends upon the existence of sufficient taxable income within the carryback or carryforward periods under the tax law in the applicable tax jurisdiction. Valuation allowances are established when management determines, based on available information, that it is more likely than not that deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in determining whether valuation allowances should be established, as well as the amount of such allowances. When making such determination, the Company considers many factors, including:

•the nature, frequency, and amount of cumulative financial reporting income and losses in recent years;

•the jurisdiction in which the deferred tax asset was generated;

•the length of time that carryforward can be utilized in the various taxing jurisdiction;

•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;

•future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;

•taxable income in prior carryback years; and

•tax planning strategies.

The Company may be required to change its provision for income taxes when estimates used in determining valuation allowances on deferred tax assets significantly change or when receipt of new information indicates the need for adjustment in valuation allowances. Additionally, the effect of changes in tax laws, tax regulations, or interpretations of such laws or regulations, is recognized in net income tax expense (benefit) in the period of change.

The Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded on the financial statements. A tax position is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits due to tax uncertainties that do not meet the threshold are included within other liabilities and are charged to earnings in the period that such determination is made.

The Company classifies interest recognized as interest expense and penalties recognized as a component of income tax expense.

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“the Tax Act”) into law. The Tax Act reduced the corporate tax rate to 21%, reduced interest expense deductibility, increased capitalization amounts for deferred acquisition costs, eliminated the corporate alternative minimum tax, provided for determining reserve deductions as 92.81% of statutory reserves, and reduced the dividend received deduction. Most of the changes in the Tax Act are effective as of January 1, 2018.

The reduction in the corporate rate required a one-time remeasurement of certain deferred tax items as of December 31, 2017. For the estimated impact of the Tax Act on the financial statements, including the estimated impact resulting from the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities. See Note 13 for more information. Actual results may materially differ from the Company’s current estimate due to, among other things, further guidance that may be issued by U.S. tax authorities or regulatory bodies and/or changes in interpretations and assumptions preliminarily made. The Company will continue to analyze the Tax Act to finalize its financial statement impact.

In December 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 118, addressing the application of GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have necessary information available to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides guidance for registrants under three scenarios: (1) the measurement of certain income tax effects is complete, (2) the measurement of certain income tax effects can be reasonably estimated, and (3) the measurement of certain income tax effects cannot be reasonably estimated. SAB 118 provides that the measurement period is complete when a company’s accounting is complete. The measurement period cannot extend beyond one year from the enactment date. SAB 118 acknowledges that a company may be able to complete the accounting for some provisions earlier than others. As such, it may need to apply all three scenarios in determining the accounting for the Tax Act based on information that is available. The Company has not fully completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act, and thus certain items relating to accounting for the Tax Act are provisional, including accounting for reserves. However, it has recorded the effects of the Tax Act as reasonable estimates due to the need for further analysis of the provisions within the Tax Act and collection, preparation and analysis of relevant data necessary to complete the accounting.

The corporate rate reduction also left certain tax effects, which were originally recorded using the previous corporate rate, stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The Company adopted new accounting guidance as of December 31, 2017 that allowed the Company to reclassify the stranded tax effects from AOCI into retained earnings. The Company elected to reclassify amounts based on the difference between the previously enacted federal corporate tax rate and the newly enacted rate as applied on an aggregate basis. See Note 13 for more information.

Litigation Contingencies

The Company is a party to a number of legal actions and is involved in a number of regulatory investigations. Given the inherent unpredictability of these matters, it is difficult to estimate the impact on the Company’s financial position. Liabilities are established when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs are recognized as incurred. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Company reviews relevant information with respect to liabilities for litigation, regulatory investigations and litigation-related contingencies to be reflected on the Company’s financial statements.

Other Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid securities and other investments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at amortized cost, which approximates estimated fair value.

Employee Benefit Plans

Through December 31, 2016, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MLIC”), a former affiliate, provided and the Company contributed to defined benefit pension and postemployment plans for its employees and retirees. MLIC also provides and the Company contributes to a postretirement medical and life insurance benefit plan for certain retired employees. The Company accounts for these plans as multiemployer benefit plans and as a result the assets, obligations and other comprehensive gains and losses of these benefit plans are not included on the consolidated balance sheet. Within its consolidated statement of operations, the Company has included expenses associated with its participants in these plans. These plans also include participants from other affiliates of MLIC. The Company’s participation in these plans ceased December 31, 2016.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Changes to GAAP are established by the FASB in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASU”) to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The following table provides a description of new ASUs issued by the FASB and the expected impact of the adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Except as noted below, the ASUs adopted by the Company during 2017 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.



Standard	Description	Effective Date	Impact on Financial Statements
ASU 2018-02, Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The amendments to Topic 220 provide an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within AOCI to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act of 2017 (or portion thereof) is recorded.	January 1, 2019 applied in the period of adoption (with early adoption permitted)	The Company elected to early adopt the ASU as of December 31, 2017 and reclassified $330 million from AOCI into retained earnings related to the impact of the Tax Act of 2017. See Notes 11 and 13.
ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	The amendments to Topic 815 (i) refine and expand the criteria for achieving hedge accounting on certain hedging strategies, (ii) require the earnings effect of the hedging instrument be presented in the same line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported, and (iii) eliminate the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness.	January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted)	The Company does not expect a material impact on its financial statements from adoption of the new guidance.
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	The amendments to Topic 326 replace the incurred loss impairment methodology for certain financial instruments with one that reflects expected credit losses based on historical loss information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The new guidance also requires that an OTTI on a debt security will be recognized as an allowance going forward, such that improvements in expected future cash flows after an impairment will no longer be reflected as a prospective yield adjustment through net investment income, but rather a reversal of the previous impairment and recognized through realized investment gains and losses.	January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2019)	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Company expects the most significant impacts to be earlier recognition of impairments on mortgage loan investments.
ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	The new guidance changes the current accounting guidance related to (i) the classification and measurement of certain equity investments, (ii) the presentation of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the FVO that are due to instrument-specific credit risk, and (iii) certain disclosures associated with the fair value of financial instruments. Additionally, there will no longer be a requirement to assess equity securities for impairment since such securities will be measured at fair value through net income.	January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method	Effective January 1, 2018 the Company will carry available-for-sale equity securities and partnerships and joint ventures accounted for under the cost method at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company will reclassify unrealized gains related to equity securities of $19 million AOCI to opening retained earnings. Additionally, the Company will adjust the carrying value of partnerships and joint ventures, previously accounted for under the cost method, from cost to fair value, resulting in a $9 million increase to retained earnings.
ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	For those contracts that are impacted, the guidance will require an entity to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled, in exchange for those goods or services.	January 1, 2018 using the retrospective method	No impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Other

Effective January 3, 2017, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) amended its rulebook, resulting in the characterization of variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. These amendments impacted the accounting treatment of the Company’s centrally cleared derivatives, for which the CME serves as the central clearing party. As of the effective date, the application of the amended rulebook, reduced gross derivative assets by $206 million, gross derivative liabilities by $927 million, accrued investment income by $30 million, collateral receivables recorded within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $765 million, and collateral payables recorded within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions of $74 million.

Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

2. Segment Information

The Company is organized into three segments: Annuities; Life; and Run-off. In addition, the Company reports certain of its results of operations in Corporate & Other.

Annuities

The Annuities segment consists of a variety of variable, fixed, index-linked and income annuities designed to address contract holders’ needs for protected wealth accumulation on a tax-deferred basis, wealth transfer and income security.

Life

The Life segment consists of insurance products and services, including term, whole, universal and variable life products designed to address policyholders’ needs for financial security and protected wealth transfer, which may be provided on a tax-advantaged basis.

Run-off

The Run-off segment consists of products no longer actively sold and which are separately managed, including structured settlements, pension risk transfer contracts, certain company-owned life insurance policies, funding agreements and universal life with secondary guarantees (“ULSG”).

Corporate & Other

Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not allocated to the segments and interest expense related to the majority of the Company’s outstanding debt, as well as expenses associated with certain legal proceedings and income tax audit issues. Corporate & Other also includes the elimination of intersegment amounts, long-term care and workers compensation business reinsured through 100% quota share reinsurance agreements and term life insurance sold direct to consumers, which is no longer being offered for new sales.

Financial Measures and Segment Accounting Policies

Adjusted earnings is a financial measure used by management to evaluate performance, allocate resources and facilitate comparisons to industry results. Consistent with GAAP guidance for segment reporting, adjusted earnings is also used to measure segment performance. The Company believes the presentation of adjusted earnings, as the Company measures it for management purposes, enhances the understanding of its performance by highlighting the results of operations and the underlying profitability drivers of the business. Adjusted earnings should not be viewed as a substitute for net income (loss).

Adjusted earnings, which may be positive or negative, focuses on the Company’s primary businesses principally by excluding the impact of market volatility, which could distort trends, as well as businesses that have been or will be sold or exited by the Company, referred to as divested businesses.

The following are the significant items excluded from total revenues in calculating adjusted earnings:


•	Net investment gains (losses);


•	Net derivative gains (losses) except earned income on derivatives and amortization of premium on derivatives that are hedges of investments or that are used to replicate certain investments, but do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment; and


•	Amortization of unearned revenue related to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses) and certain variable annuity GMIB fees (“GMIB Fees”).

The following are the significant items excluded from total expenses in calculating adjusted earnings:


•	Amounts associated with benefits and hedging costs related to GMIBs (“GMIB Costs”);


•	Amounts associated with periodic crediting rate adjustments based on the total return of a contractually referenced pool of assets and market value adjustments associated with surrenders or terminations of contracts (“Market Value Adjustments”); and


•	Amortization of DAC and VOBA related to: (i) net investment gains (losses), (ii) net derivative gains (losses), (iii) GMIB Fees and GMIB Costs and (iv) Market Value Adjustments.

The tax impact of the adjustments mentioned above are calculated net of the U.S statutory tax rate, which could differ from the Company’s effective tax rate.

Set forth in the tables below is certain financial information with respect to the Company’s segments, as well as Corporate & Other, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and at December 31, 2017 and 2016. The segment accounting policies are the same as those used to prepare the Company’s consolidated financial statements, except for the adjustments to calculate adjusted earnings described above. In addition, segment accounting policies include the method of capital allocation described below.

The internal capital model is a risk capital model that reflects management’s judgment and view of required capital to represent the measurement of the risk profile of the business, to meet the Company’s long term promises to clients, to service long-term obligations and to support the credit ratings of the Company. It accounts for the unique and specific nature of the risks inherent in the Company’s business. Management is responsible for the ongoing production and enhancement of the internal capital model and reviewed its approach periodically to ensure that it remained consistent with emerging industry practice standards.

Beginning in 2018, the Company will allocate equity to the segments based on its new statutory capital oriented internal capital allocation model, which considers capital requirements and aligns with emerging standards and consistent risk principles.

In 2017 and prior years, segment net investment income was credited or charged based on the level of allocated equity; however, changes in allocated equity do not impact the Company’s consolidated net investment income or net income (loss). Going forward, investment portfolios will be funded to support both liabilities and allocated surplus of each segment, requiring no allocated equity adjustments to net investment income. The impact to segment results is not expected to be material. Net investment income is based upon the actual results of each segment’s specifically identifiable investment portfolios adjusted for allocated equity. Other costs are allocated to each of the segments based upon: (i) a review of the nature of such costs; (ii) time studies analyzing the amount of employee time incurred by each segment; and (iii) cost estimates included in the Company’s product pricing.



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2017	Annuities		Life			Run-off			Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,230	$	(68	)	$	(466	)	$	(114	)	$	582
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	323		(30		)	(172		)	338			459
Adjusted earnings	$	907	$	(38	)	$	(294	)	$	(452	)	123
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)												(27		)
Net derivative gains (losses)												(1,468		)
Other adjustments to net income												(708		)
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit												1,197
Net income (loss)												$	(883	)

Interest revenue	$	1,263	$	300		$	1,399		$	142
Interest expense	$	—	$	(4	)	$	23		$	39



Balance at December 31, 2017	Annuities		Life		Run-off		Corporate & Other		Total
	(In millions)
Total assets	$	149,920	$	13,044	$	36,719	$	12,362	$	212,045
Separate account assets	$	105,140	$	1,915	$	3,101	$	—	$	110,156
Separate account liabilities	$	105,140	$	1,915	$	3,101	$	—	$	110,156



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2016	Annuities		Life		Run-off			Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,494	$	6	$	(249	)	$	23		$	1,274
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	441		—		(90		)	(10		)	341
Adjusted earnings	$	1,053	$	6	$	(159	)	$	33		933
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)											(67		)
Net derivative gains (losses)											(5,770		)
Other adjustments to net income											98
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit											2,031
Net income (loss)											$	(2,775	)

Interest revenue	$	1,446	$	351	$	1,411		$	197
Interest expense	$	—	$	—	$	60		$	67



Balance at December 31, 2016	Annuities		Life		Run-off		Corporate & Other		Total
	(In millions)
Total assets	$	146,224	$	12,296	$	40,575	$	12,330	$	211,425
Separate account assets	$	100,209	$	1,671	$	3,466	$	—	$	105,346
Separate account liabilities	$	100,209	$	1,671	$	3,466	$	—	$	105,346



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2015	Annuities		Life			Run-off		Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,339	$	(56	)	$	713	$	(77	)	$	1,919
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	329		(21		)	247		(43		)	512
Adjusted earnings	$	1,010	$	(35	)	$	466	$	(34	)	1,407
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)											5
Net derivative gains (losses)											(497		)
Other adjustments to net income											(262		)
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit											265
Net income (loss)											$	918

Interest revenue	$	1,266	$	313		$	1,551	$	97
Interest expense	$	—	$	—		$	60	$	69



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	3,721		$	4,423		$	4,665
Life	1,036			1,036			881
Run-off	2,148			2,313			2,366
Corporate & Other	250			338			398
Adjustments	(1,357		)	(5,850		)	(438		)
Total	$	5,798		$	2,260		$	7,872

The following table presents total premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues by major product groups of the Company’s segments, as well as Corporate & Other:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Annuity products	$	2,729	$	3,411	$	3,701
Life insurance products	1,587		1,552		1,529
Other products	4		23		133
Total	$	4,320	$	4,986	$	5,363

Substantially all of the Company’s consolidated premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues originated in the U.S.

Revenues derived from any customer did not exceed 10% of consolidated premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Organizational Changes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Contribution Transactions [Abstract]

Accounting Changes [Text Block]

3. Organizational Changes

Contribution Transactions

In April 2017, in connection with the Separation, MetLife, Inc. contributed MetLife Reinsurance Company of Delaware, MetLife Reinsurance Company of South Carolina (“MRSC”), MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont II, all affiliated reinsurance companies, and BHNY to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (“the Contribution Transactions”). The affiliated reinsurance companies were then merged into BRCD, and certain reserve financing arrangements were restructured, resulting in a net return of capital to MetLife of $2.7 billion. The return of capital included $3.4 billion in cash, offset by a non-cash capital contribution of $703 million primarily comprised of the $643 million tax impact of a basis adjustment for BRCD in connection with the Contribution Transactions. The affiliated reinsurance companies reinsured risks, including level premium term life and ULSG assumed from the Company and other entities and operations of Brighthouse.

The Contribution Transactions were between entities under common control and have been accounted for in a manner similar to the pooling-of-interests method, which requires that the acquired entities be combined at their historical cost. The Company’s consolidated financial statements and related footnotes are presented as if the transaction occurred at the beginning of the earliest date presented and the prior periods have been retrospectively adjusted.

Simultaneously with the Contribution Transactions, the following additional transactions occurred:


•	The existing reserve financing arrangements of the affiliated reinsurance companies with unaffiliated financial institutions were terminated and replaced with a single financing arrangement supported by a pool of highly rated third-party reinsurers. See Note 10.


•	Invested assets held in trust totaling $3.4 billion were liquidated, of which $2.8 billion provided funding for MetLife, Inc.’s repayment of the associated collateral financing arrangement, and the remainder was remitted to MetLife, Inc. See Notes 7 and 11.


•	Loans outstanding to MetLife, Inc. totaling $1.1 billion were repaid in an exchange transaction that resulted in the satisfaction of $1.1 billion of surplus notes due to MetLife. See Notes 7 and 10.

Insurance

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Insurance [Abstract]

Insurance

4. Insurance

Insurance Liabilities

Insurance liabilities, including affiliated insurance liabilities on reinsurance assumed and ceded, are comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances. Information regarding insurance liabilities by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	34,143	$	32,793
Life	7,057		6,932
Run-off	26,770		24,887
Corporate & Other	7,534		7,431
Total	$	75,504	$	72,043

See Note 6 for discussion of affiliated reinsurance liabilities included in the table above.

Future policy benefits are measured as follows:



Product Type:		Measurement Assumptions:
Participating life insurance		Aggregate of (i) net level premium reserves for death and endowment policy benefits (calculated based upon the non-forfeiture interest rate of 4%, and mortality rates guaranteed in calculating the cash surrender values described in such contracts); and (ii) the liability for terminal dividends.
Nonparticipating life insurance		Aggregate of the present value of expected future benefit payments and related expenses less the present value of expected future net premiums. Assumptions as to mortality and persistency are based upon the Company’s experience when the basis of the liability is established. Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities range from 3% to 8%.
Individual and group fixed annuities after annuitization		Present value of expected future payments. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 2% to 8%.
Long-term care and disability insurance active life reserves		The net level premium method and assumptions as to future morbidity, withdrawals and interest, which provide a margin for adverse deviation. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 4% to 7%.
Long-term care and disability insurance claim reserves		Present value of benefits method and experience assumptions as to claim terminations, expenses and interest. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 3% to 7%.

Participating business represented 4% of the Company’s life insurance in-force at both December 31, 2017 and 2016. Participating policies represented 38%, 42% and 39% of gross traditional life insurance premiums for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Policyholder account balances are equal to: (i) policy account values, which consist of an accumulation of gross premium payments; (ii) credited interest, ranging from less than 1% to 7%, less expenses, mortality charges and withdrawals; and (iii) fair value adjustments relating to business combinations.

Guarantees

The Company issues variable annuity products with guaranteed minimum benefits. GMABs, the non-life contingent portion of GMWBs and the portion of certain GMIBs that do not require annuitization are accounted for as embedded derivatives in policyholder account balances and are further discussed in Note 8. Guarantees accounted for as insurance liabilities include:



Guarantee:			Measurement Assumptions:
GMDBs	•	A return of purchase payment upon death even if the account value is reduced to zero.	•	Present value of expected death benefits in excess of the projected account balance recognizing the excess ratably over the accumulation period based on the present value of total expected assessments.
	•	An enhanced death benefit may be available for an additional fee.	•	Assumptions are consistent with those used for amortizing DAC, and are thus subject to the same variability and risk.
			•	Investment performance and volatility assumptions are consistent with the historical experience of the appropriate underlying equity index, such as the S&P 500 Index.
			•	Benefit assumptions are based on the average benefits payable over a range of scenarios.
GMIBs	•	After a specified period of time determined at the time of issuance of the variable annuity contract, a minimum accumulation of purchase payments, even if the account value is reduced to zero, that can be annuitized to receive a monthly income stream that is not less than a specified amount.	•	Present value of expected income benefits in excess of the projected account balance at any future date of annuitization and recognizing the excess ratably over the accumulation period based on present value of total expected assessments.
	•	Certain contracts also provide for a guaranteed lump sum return of purchase premium in lieu of the annuitization benefit.	•	Assumptions are consistent with those used for estimating GMDB liabilities.
			•	Calculation incorporates an assumption for the percentage of the potential annuitizations that may be elected by the contract holder.
GMWBs	•	A return of purchase payment via partial withdrawals, even if the account value is reduced to zero, provided that cumulative withdrawals in a contract year do not exceed a certain limit.	•	Expected value of the life contingent payments and expected assessments using assumptions consistent with those used for estimating the GMDB liabilities.
	•	Certain contracts include guaranteed withdrawals that are life contingent.

The Company also issues universal and variable life contracts where the Company contractually guarantees to the contract holder a secondary guarantee.

Information regarding the liabilities for guarantees (excluding base policy liabilities and embedded derivatives) relating to annuity and universal and variable life contracts was as follows:



	Annuity Contracts						Universal and Variable Life Contracts
	GMDBs			GMIBs			Secondary Guarantees			Total
	(In millions)
Direct
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	619		$	1,535		$	2,374		$	4,528
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	248			337			413			998
Paid guaranteed benefits	(36		)	—			—			(36		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	831			1,872			2,787			5,490
Incurred guaranteed benefits	335			334			753			1,422
Paid guaranteed benefits	(60		)	—			—			(60		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,106			2,206			3,540			6,852
Incurred guaranteed benefits	367			344			692			1,403
Paid guaranteed benefits	(57		)	—			—			(57		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,416		$	2,550		$	4,232		$	8,198
Net Ceded/(Assumed)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	(21	)	$	(26	)	$	846		$	799
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	20			(2		)	161			179
Paid guaranteed benefits	(33		)	—			—			(33		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	(34		)	(28		)	1,007			945
Incurred guaranteed benefits	44			9			98			151
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	(45		)	(19		)	1,105			1,041
Incurred guaranteed benefits	94			(28		)	(159		)	(93		)
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(6	)	$	(47	)	$	946		$	893
Net
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	640		$	1,561		$	1,528		$	3,729
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	228			339			252			819
Paid guaranteed benefits	(3		)	—			—			(3		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	865			1,900			1,780			4,545
Incurred guaranteed benefits	291			325			655			1,271
Paid guaranteed benefits	(5		)	—			—			(5		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,151			2,225			2,435			5,811
Incurred guaranteed benefits	273			372			851			1,496
Paid guaranteed benefits	(2		)	—			—			(2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,422		$	2,597		$	3,286		$	7,305

______________


(1)	See Note 6.

Information regarding the Company’s guarantee exposure was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017						2016
	In the Event of Death			At Annuitization			In the Event of Death			At Annuitization
	(Dollars in millions)
Annuity Contracts (1), (2)
Variable Annuity Guarantees
Total account value (3)	$	105,061		$	59,691		$	106,590		$	61,340
Separate account value	$	100,043		$	58,511		$	101,991		$	60,016
Net amount at risk	$	5,200	(4)	$	2,330	(5)	$	6,763	(4)	$	3,116	(5)
Average attained age of contract holders	68 years			68 years			67 years			67 years



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	Secondary Guarantees
	(Dollars in millions)
Universal Life Contracts
Total account value (3)	$	6,244	$	6,216
Net amount at risk (6)	$	75,304	$	76,216
Average attained age of policyholders	64 years		63 years

Variable Life Contracts
Total account value (3)	$	1,021	$	960
Net amount at risk (6)	$	13,848	$	14,757
Average attained age of policyholders	44 years		43 years

______________


(1)	The Company’s annuity contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract. Therefore, the amounts listed above may not be mutually exclusive.


(2)	Includes direct business, but excludes offsets from hedging or reinsurance, if any. Therefore, the net amount at risk presented reflects the economic exposures of living and death benefit guarantees associated with variable annuities, but not necessarily their impact on the Company. See Note 6 for a discussion of guaranteed minimum benefits which have been reinsured.


(3)	Includes the contract holder’s investments in the general account and separate account, if applicable.


(4)	Defined as the death benefit less the total account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date and includes any additional contractual claims associated with riders purchased to assist with covering income taxes payable upon death.

(5)

Defined as the amount (if any) that would be required to be added to the total account value to purchase a lifetime income stream, based on current annuity rates, equal to the minimum amount provided under the guaranteed benefit. This amount represents the Company’s potential economic exposure to such guarantees in the event all contract holders were to annuitize on the balance sheet date, even though the contracts contain terms that allow annuitization of the guaranteed amount only after the 10th anniversary of the contract, which not all contract holders have achieved.


(6)	Defined as the guarantee amount less the account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date.

Account balances of contracts with guarantees were invested in separate account asset classes as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Fund Groupings:
Balanced	$	54,729	$	52,170
Equity	43,685		41,152
Bond	6,082		6,086
Money Market	605		703
Total	$	105,101	$	100,111

Obligations Under Funding Agreements

The Company has issued fixed and floating rate funding agreements, which are denominated in either U.S. dollars or foreign currencies, to certain special purpose entities that have issued either debt securities or commercial paper for which payment of interest and principal is secured by such funding agreements. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company issued $0, $1.4 billion and $13.0 billion, respectively, and repaid $6 million, $3.4 billion and $14.4 billion, respectively, of such funding agreements. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, liabilities for funding agreements outstanding, which are included in policyholder account balances, were $141 million and $127 million, respectively.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) of Pittsburgh and holds common stock in certain regional banks in the FHLB system. Holdings of FHLB common stock carried at cost at December 31, 2017 and 2016 were $71 million and $75 million, respectively.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company has also entered into funding agreements with FHLBs. The liabilities for these funding agreements are included in policyholder account balances. Information related to FHLB funding agreements was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Liabilities	$	595	$	645

Funding agreements are issued to FHLBs in exchange for cash. The FHLBs have been granted liens on certain assets, some of which are in their custody, including RMBS, to collateralize the Company’s obligations under the funding agreements. The Company is permitted to withdraw any portion of the collateral in the custody of the FHLBs as long as there is no event of default and the remaining qualified collateral is sufficient to satisfy the collateral maintenance level. Upon any event of default by the Company, the FHLBs recovery on the collateral is limited to the amount of the Company’s liabilities to the FHLBs.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net [Abstract]

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles

5. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Intangibles

See Note 1 for a description of capitalized acquisition costs.

Traditional Life Insurance Contracts

The Company amortizes DAC and VOBA related to these contracts (primarily term insurance) over the appropriate premium paying period in proportion to the actual and expected future gross premiums that were set at contract issue. The expected premiums are based upon the premium requirement of each policy and assumptions for mortality, persistency and investment returns at policy issuance, or policy acquisition (as it relates to VOBA), include provisions for adverse deviation, and are consistent with the assumptions used to calculate future policy benefit liabilities. These assumptions are not revised after policy issuance or acquisition unless the DAC or VOBA balance is deemed to be unrecoverable from future expected profits. Absent a premium deficiency, variability in amortization after policy issuance or acquisition is caused only by variability in premium volumes.

Fixed and Variable Universal Life Contracts and Fixed and Variable Deferred Annuity Contracts

The Company amortizes DAC and VOBA related to these contracts over the estimated lives of the contracts in proportion to actual and expected future gross profits. The amortization includes interest based on rates in effect at inception or acquisition of the contracts. The amount of future gross profits is dependent principally upon returns in excess of the amounts credited to policyholders, mortality, persistency, benefit elections and withdrawals, interest crediting rates, expenses to administer the business, creditworthiness of reinsurance counterparties, the effect of any hedges used and certain economic variables, such as inflation. Of these factors, the Company anticipates that investment returns, expenses, persistency and benefit elections and withdrawals are reasonably likely to significantly impact the rate of DAC and VOBA amortization. Each reporting period, the Company updates the estimated gross profits with the actual gross profits for that period. When the actual gross profits change from previously estimated gross profits, the cumulative DAC and VOBA amortization is re-estimated and adjusted by a cumulative charge or credit to current operations. When actual gross profits exceed those previously estimated, the DAC and VOBA amortization will increase, resulting in a current period charge to earnings. The opposite result occurs when the actual gross profits are below the previously estimated gross profits. Each reporting period, the Company also updates the actual amount of business remaining in-force, which impacts expected future gross profits. When expected future gross profits are below those previously estimated, the DAC and VOBA amortization will increase, resulting in a current period charge to earnings. The opposite result occurs when the expected future gross profits are above the previously estimated expected future gross profits. Each period, the Company also reviews the estimated gross profits for each block of business to determine the recoverability of DAC and VOBA balances.

Factors Impacting Amortization

Separate account rates of return on variable universal life contracts and variable deferred annuity contracts affect in-force account balances on such contracts each reporting period, which can result in significant fluctuations in amortization of DAC and VOBA. Returns that are higher than the Company’s long-term expectation produce higher account balances, which increases the Company’s future fee expectations and decreases future benefit payment expectations on minimum death and living benefit guarantees, resulting in higher expected future gross profits. The opposite result occurs when returns are lower than the Company’s long-term expectation. The Company’s practice to determine the impact of gross profits resulting from returns on separate accounts assumes that long-term appreciation in equity markets is not changed by short-term market fluctuations, but is only changed when sustained interim deviations are expected. The Company monitors these events and only changes the assumption when its long-term expectation changes.

The Company also annually reviews other long-term assumptions underlying the projections of estimated gross profits. These assumptions primarily relate to investment returns, policyholder dividend scales, interest crediting rates, mortality, persistency, benefit elections and withdrawals and expenses to administer business. Management annually updates assumptions used in the calculation of estimated gross profits which may have significantly changed. If the update of assumptions causes expected future gross profits to increase, DAC and VOBA amortization will generally decrease, resulting in a current period increase to earnings. The opposite result occurs when the assumption update causes expected future gross profits to decrease.

Periodically, the Company modifies product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occur by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by election or coverage within a contract. If such modification, referred to as an internal replacement, substantially changes the contract, the associated DAC or VOBA is written off immediately through income and any new deferrable costs associated with the replacement contract are deferred. If the modification does not substantially change the contract, the DAC or VOBA amortization on the original contract will continue and any acquisition costs associated with the related modification are expensed.

Amortization of DAC and VOBA is attributed to net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses), and to other expenses for the amount of gross profits originating from transactions other than investment gains and losses. Unrealized investment gains and losses represent the amount of DAC and VOBA that would have been amortized if such gains and losses had been recognized.

Information regarding DAC and VOBA was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DAC:
Balance at January 1,	$	5,667		$	5,066		$	5,097
Capitalizations	256			330			399
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	127			1,371			163
Other expenses	(958		)	(1,076		)	(690		)
Total amortization	(831		)	295			(527		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(77		)	(24		)	97
Balance at December 31,	5,015			5,667			5,066
VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	672			711			763
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	(9		)	2			(19		)
Other expenses	(76		)	(72		)	(127		)
Total amortization	(85		)	(70		)	(146		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	21			31			94
Balance at December 31,	608			672			711
Total DAC and VOBA:
Balance at December 31,	$	5,623		$	6,339		$	5,777

Information regarding total DAC and VOBA by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	4,819	$	4,820
Life	671		787
Run-off	5		584
Corporate & Other	128		148
Total	$	5,623	$	6,339

Information regarding other intangibles was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DSI:
Balance at January 1,	$	432		$	515		$	566
Capitalization	2			3			3
Amortization	(12		)	(83		)	(72		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(11		)	(3		)	18
Balance at December 31,	$	411		$	432		$	515
VODA:
Balance at January 1,	$	120		$	136		$	155
Amortization	(15		)	(16		)	(19		)
Balance at December 31,	$	105		$	120		$	136
Accumulated amortization	$	155		$	140		$	124

The estimated future amortization expense to be reported in other expenses for the next five years is as follows:



	VOBA		VODA
	(In millions)
2018	$	98	$	14
2019	$	84	$	13
2020	$	62	$	12
2021	$	53	$	10
2022	$	46	$	9

Reinsurance

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Reinsurance

6. Reinsurance

The Company enters into reinsurance agreements primarily as a purchaser of reinsurance for its various insurance products and also as a provider of reinsurance for some insurance products issued by New England Life Insurance Company (“NELICO”), former affiliates and unaffiliated companies. The Company participates in reinsurance activities in order to limit losses, minimize exposure to significant risks and provide additional capacity for future growth.

Accounting for reinsurance requires extensive use of assumptions and estimates, particularly related to the future performance of the underlying business and the potential impact of counterparty credit risks. The Company periodically reviews actual and anticipated experience compared to the aforementioned assumptions used to establish assets and liabilities relating to ceded and assumed reinsurance and evaluates the financial strength of counterparties to its reinsurance agreements using criteria similar to that evaluated in the security impairment process discussed in Note 7.

Annuities and Life

For annuities, the Company reinsures portions of the living and death benefit guarantees issued in connection with certain variable annuities to unaffiliated reinsurers. Under these reinsurance agreements, the Company pays a reinsurance premium generally based on fees associated with the guarantees collected from policyholders, and receives reimbursement for benefits paid or accrued in excess of account values, subject to certain limitations. The value of embedded derivatives on the ceded risk is determined using a methodology consistent with the guarantees directly written by the Company with the exception of the input for nonperformance risk that reflects the credit of the reinsurer. The Company also assumes 100% of the living and death benefit guarantees issued in connection with certain variable annuities issued by NELICO.

For its life products, the Company has historically reinsured the mortality risk primarily on an excess of retention basis or on a quota share basis. The Company currently reinsures 90% of the mortality risk in excess of $2 million for most products. In addition to reinsuring mortality risk as described above, the Company reinsures other risks, as well as specific coverages. Placement of reinsurance is done primarily on an automatic basis and also on a facultative basis for risks with specified characteristics. On a case by case basis, the Company may retain up to $20 million per life and reinsure 100% of amounts in excess of the amount the Company retains. The Company also reinsures 90% of the risk associated with participating whole life policies to a former affiliate and assumes certain term life policies and universal life policies with secondary death benefit guarantees issued by a former affiliate. The Company evaluates its reinsurance programs routinely and may increase or decrease its retention at any time.

Corporate & Other

The Company reinsures, through 100% quota share reinsurance agreements certain run-off long-term care and workers’ compensation business written by the Company. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $6.5 billion of reinsurance recoverables associated with our reinsured long-term care business. The reinsurer has established trust accounts for our benefit to secure their obligations under the reinsurance agreements.

Catastrophe Coverage

The Company has exposure to catastrophes which could contribute to significant fluctuations in the Company’s results of operations. The Company uses excess of retention and quota share reinsurance agreements to provide greater diversification of risk and minimize exposure to larger risks.

Reinsurance Recoverables

The Company reinsures its business through a diversified group of reinsurers. The Company analyzes recent trends in arbitration and litigation outcomes in disputes, if any, with its reinsurers. The Company monitors ratings and evaluates the financial strength of its reinsurers by analyzing their financial statements. In addition, the reinsurance recoverable balance due from each reinsurer is evaluated as part of the overall monitoring process. Recoverability of reinsurance recoverable balances is evaluated based on these analyses. The Company generally secures large reinsurance recoverable balances with various forms of collateral, including secured trusts, funds withheld accounts and irrevocable letters of credit. These reinsurance recoverable balances are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance, which at both December 31, 2017 and 2016, were not significant.

The Company has secured certain reinsurance recoverable balances with various forms of collateral, including secured trusts, funds withheld accounts and irrevocable letters of credit. The Company had $2.4 billion and $2.6 billion of unsecured reinsurance recoverable balances with third-party reinsurers at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had $9.1 billion of net ceded reinsurance recoverables with third-parties. Of this total, $7.9 billion, or 87%, were with the Company’s five largest ceded reinsurers, including $1.4 billion of net ceded reinsurance recoverables which were unsecured. At December 31, 2016, the Company had $9.1 billion of net ceded reinsurance recoverables with third-parties. Of this total, $7.8 billion, or 86%, were with the Company’s five largest ceded reinsurers, including $1.5 billion of net ceded reinsurance recoverables which were unsecured.

The amounts on the consolidated statements of operations include the impact of reinsurance. Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Premiums
Direct premiums	$	1,731		$	2,226		$	2,404
Reinsurance assumed	13			81			296
Reinsurance ceded	(916		)	(1,127		)	(1,063		)
Net premiums	$	828		$	1,180		$	1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
Direct universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	3,653		$	3,582		$	3,722
Reinsurance assumed	103			126			139
Reinsurance ceded	(600		)	(611		)	(568		)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	3,156		$	3,097		$	3,293
Other revenues
Direct other revenues	$	260		$	271		$	271
Reinsurance assumed	29			89			2
Reinsurance ceded	47			349			160
Net other revenues	$	336		$	709		$	433
Policyholder benefits and claims
Direct policyholder benefits and claims	$	5,080		$	6,101		$	4,944
Reinsurance assumed	89			127			302
Reinsurance ceded	(1,575		)	(2,490		)	(2,159		)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	$	3,594		$	3,738		$	3,087

The amounts on the consolidated balance sheets include the impact of reinsurance. Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017									2016
	Direct		Assumed			Ceded		Total Balance Sheet		Direct		Assumed		Ceded		Total Balance Sheet
	(In millions)
Assets
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	367	$	43		$	12,508	$	12,918	$	1,161	$	23	$	12,669	$	13,853
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	36,359	$	710		$	—	$	37,069	$	35,838	$	741	$	—	$	36,579
Other policy-related balances	1,037		1,683			—		2,720		1,035		1,677		—		2,712
Other liabilities	3,724		(6		)	701		4,419		4,525		13		907		5,445

Effective December 1, 2016, the Company terminated two agreements with a third-party reinsurer which covered 90% of the liabilities on certain participating whole life insurance policies issued between April 1, 2000 and December 31, 2001 by MLIC. This termination resulted in a decrease in other invested assets of $713 million, a decrease in DAC and VOBA of $95 million, a decrease in future policy benefits of $654 million, and a decrease in other liabilities of $43 million. The Company recognized a loss of approximately $72 million, net of income tax, as a result of this transaction.

Reinsurance agreements that do not expose the Company to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk are recorded using the deposit method of accounting. The deposit assets on reinsurance were $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The deposit liabilities on reinsurance were $198 million and $1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Related Party Reinsurance Transactions

The Company has reinsurance agreements with its affiliate NELICO and certain MetLife, Inc. subsidiaries, including MLIC, General American Life Insurance Company, MetLife Europe d.a.c., MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont (“MRV”), Delaware American Life Insurance Company and American Life Insurance Company, all of which were related parties at December 31, 2017.

Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance with NELICO and former MetLife affiliates included on the consolidated statements of operations was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Premiums
Reinsurance assumed	$	13		$	35		$	227
Reinsurance ceded	(537		)	(766		)	(687		)
Net premiums	$	(524	)	$	(731	)	$	(460	)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
Reinsurance assumed	$	103		$	126		$	139
Reinsurance ceded	(14		)	(60		)	(58		)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	89		$	66		$	81
Other revenues
Reinsurance assumed	$	29		$	59		$	2
Reinsurance ceded	44			348			160
Net other revenues	$	73		$	407		$	162
Policyholder benefits and claims
Reinsurance assumed	$	87		$	90		$	252
Reinsurance ceded	(420		)	(737		)	(656		)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	$	(333	)	$	(647	)	$	(404	)

Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance with NELICO and former MetLife affiliates included on the consolidated balance sheets was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
	Assumed			Ceded		Assumed		Ceded
	(In millions)
Assets
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	34		$	3,254	$	23	$	3,382
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	436		$	—	$	741	$	—
Other policy-related balances	$	1,683		$	—	$	1,677	$	—
Other liabilities	$	(8	)	$	401	$	11	$	578

The Company assumed risks from NELICO and MLIC related to guaranteed minimum benefits written directly by the cedents. These assumed reinsurance agreements contain embedded derivatives and changes in their estimated fair value are also included within net derivative gains (losses). The embedded derivatives associated with the cessions are included within policyholder account balances and were $436 million and $741 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net derivative gains (losses) associated with the embedded derivatives were $177 million, ($21) million and ($47) million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In January 2017, MLIC recaptured these risks being reinsured by the Company. This recapture resulted in a decrease in investments and cash and cash equivalents of $568 million, a decrease in future policy benefits of $106 million, and a decrease in policyholder account balances of $460 million. In June 2017, there was an adjustment to the recapture amounts of this transaction, which resulted in an increase in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $140 million at June 30, 2017. The Company recognized a gain of $89 million, net of income tax, as a result of this transaction.

The Company cedes risks to MLIC related to guaranteed minimum benefits written directly by the Company. This ceded reinsurance agreement contains embedded derivatives and changes in the estimated fair value are also included within net derivative gains (losses). The embedded derivatives associated with this cession are included within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables and were $2 million and $171 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Net derivative gains (losses) associated with the embedded derivatives were ($126) million, $46 million, and $54 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

In May 2017, the Company and BHNY recaptured from MLIC risks related to multiple life products ceded under yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. This recapture resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $214 million and a decrease in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $189 million. The Company recognized a gain of $17 million, net of income tax, as a result of reinsurance termination.

In January 2017, the Company recaptured risks related to certain variable annuities, including guaranteed minimum benefits, issued by BHNY ceded to MLIC. This recapture resulted in a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $150 million, an increase in future policy benefits of $45 million, an increase in policyholder account balances of $168 million and a decrease in other liabilities of $359 million. The Company recognized no gain or loss as a result of this transaction.

In January 2017, the Company executed a novation and assignment agreement whereby it replaced MLIC as the reinsurer of certain variable annuities, including guaranteed minimum benefits, issued by NELICO. This novation and assignment resulted in an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $184 million, an increase in future policy benefits of $34 million, an increase in policyholder account balances of $219 million and a decrease in other liabilities of $68 million. The Company recognized no gain or loss as a result of this transaction.

In December 2016, the Company recaptured level premium term business previously reinsured to MRV. This recapture resulted in a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $27 million, a decrease in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $94 million and a decrease in other liabilities of $158 million. The Company recognized a gain of $24 million, net of income tax, as a result of this recapture.

In November 2016, the Company recaptured certain single premium deferred annuity contracts previously reinsured to MLIC. This recapture resulted in an increase in investments and cash and cash equivalents of $933 million and increase in DAC of $23 million, offset by a decrease in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $923 million. The Company recognized a gain of $22 million, net of income tax, as a result of this recapture.

In April 2016, the Company recaptured risks related to certain single premium deferred annuity contracts previously reinsured to MLIC. As a result of this recapture, the significant effects to the Company were an increase in investments and cash and cash equivalents of $4.3 billion and an increase in DAC of $87 million, offset by a decrease in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables of $4.0 billion. The Company recognized a gain of $246 million, net of income tax, as a result of this recapture.

The Company has secured certain reinsurance recoverable balances with various forms of collateral, including secured trusts, funds withheld accounts and irrevocable letters of credit. The Company had $2.5 billion and $2.6 billion of unsecured related party reinsurance recoverable balances at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Related party reinsurance agreements that do not expose the Company to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk are recorded using the deposit method of accounting. The deposit assets on related party reinsurance were $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The deposit liabilities on related party reinsurance were $198 million and $0 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Investments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block]

7. Investments

See Note 9 for information about the fair value hierarchy for investments and the related valuation methodologies.

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities AFS

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities AFS by Sector

The following table presents the fixed maturity and equity securities AFS by sector at:



	December 31, 2017											December 31, 2016
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value		Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)			Estimated Fair Value		Cost or Amortized Cost		Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)			Estimated Fair Value
										(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities: (2)
U.S. corporate	$	20,647	$	1,822	$	89	$	—		$	22,380	$	20,663	$	1,287	$	285	$	—		$	21,665
U.S. government and agency	14,185		1,844		116		—			15,913		11,872		1,281		237		—			12,916
RMBS	7,588		283		57		(3		)	7,817		7,876		203		139		—			7,940
Foreign corporate	6,457		376		62		—			6,771		6,071		220		168		—			6,123
State and political subdivision	3,573		532		6		1			4,098		3,520		376		38		—			3,858
CMBS	3,259		48		17		(1		)	3,291		3,687		40		32		(1		)	3,696
ABS	1,779		19		2		—			1,796		2,600		11		13		—			2,598
Foreign government	1,111		159		3		—			1,267		1,000		114		11		—			1,103
Total fixed maturity securities	$	58,599	$	5,083	$	352	$	(3	)	$	63,333	$	57,289	$	3,532	$	923	$	(1	)	$	59,899
Equity securities (2)	$	212	$	21	$	1	$	—		$	232	$	280	$	29	$	9	$	—		$	300

______________


(1)	Noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI in an unrealized gain position are due to increases in estimated fair value subsequent to initial recognition of noncredit losses on such securities. See also “— Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses).”


(2)	Redeemable preferred stock is reported within U.S. corporate and foreign corporate fixed maturity securities and non-redeemable preferred stock is reported within equity securities. Included within fixed maturity securities are Structured Securities.

The Company held non-income producing fixed maturity securities with an estimated fair value of $3 million and $5 million with unrealized gains (losses) of ($2) million and less than $1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by contractual maturity date, were as follows at December 31, 2017:



	Due in One Year or Less		Due After One Year Through Five Years		Due After Five Years Through Ten Years		Due After Ten Years		Structured Securities		Total Fixed Maturity Securities
	(In millions)
Amortized cost	$	1,833	$	10,018	$	11,131	$	22,991	$	12,626	$	58,599
Estimated fair value	$	1,838	$	10,347	$	11,458	$	26,786	$	12,904	$	63,333

Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities due to the exercise of call or prepayment options. Fixed maturity securities not due at a single maturity date have been presented in the year of final contractual maturity. Structured Securities are shown separately, as they are not due at a single maturity.

Continuous Gross Unrealized Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities AFS by Sector

The following table presents the estimated fair value and gross unrealized losses of fixed maturity and equity securities AFS in an unrealized loss position, aggregated by sector and by length of time that the securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at:



	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(Dollars in millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	1,762	$	21	$	1,413	$	68	$	4,632	$	187	$	699	$	98
U.S. government and agency	4,764		36		1,573		80		4,396		237		—		—
RMBS	2,308		13		1,292		41		3,457		107		818		32
Foreign corporate	636		8		559		54		1,443		64		573		104
State and political subdivision	171		3		106		4		887		35		29		3
CMBS	603		6		335		10		1,553		26		171		5
ABS	165		—		75		2		450		5		461		8
Foreign government	152		2		50		1		242		10		6		1
Total fixed maturity securities	$	10,561	$	89	$	5,403	$	260	$	17,060	$	671	$	2,757	$	251
Equity securities:	$	17	$	—	$	10	$	1	$	57	$	2	$	40	$	7
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position	914				623				1,711				475

Evaluation of AFS Securities for OTTI and Evaluating Temporarily Impaired AFS Securities

Evaluation and Measurement Methodologies

Management considers a wide range of factors about the security issuer and uses its best judgment in evaluating the cause of the decline in the estimated fair value of the security and in assessing the prospects for near-term recovery. Inherent in management’s evaluation of the security are assumptions and estimates about the operations of the issuer and its future earnings potential. Considerations used in the impairment evaluation process include, but are not limited to: (i) the length of time and the extent to which the estimated fair value has been below cost or amortized cost; (ii) the potential for impairments when the issuer is experiencing significant financial difficulties; (iii) the potential for impairments in an entire industry sector or sub-sector; (iv) the potential for impairments in certain economically depressed geographic locations; (v) the potential for impairments where the issuer, series of issuers or industry has suffered a catastrophic loss or has exhausted natural resources; (vi) with respect to fixed maturity securities, whether the Company has the intent to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell a particular security before the decline in estimated fair value below amortized cost recovers; (vii) with respect to Structured Securities, changes in forecasted cash flows after considering the quality of underlying collateral, expected prepayment speeds, current and forecasted loss severity, consideration of the payment terms of the underlying assets backing a particular security, and the payment priority within the tranche structure of the security; (viii) the potential for impairments due to weakening of foreign currencies on non-functional currency denominated fixed maturity securities that are near maturity; and (ix) other subjective factors, including concentrations and information obtained from regulators and rating agencies.

Current Period Evaluation

Based on the Company’s current evaluation of its AFS securities in an unrealized loss position in accordance with its impairment policy, and the Company’s current intentions and assessments (as applicable to the type of security) about holding, selling and any requirements to sell these securities, the Company concluded that these securities were not other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2017.

Gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities decreased $573 million during the year ended December 31, 2017 to $349 million. The decrease in gross unrealized losses for the year ended December 31, 2017, was primarily attributable to narrowing credit spreads and decreasing longer-term interest rates.

At December 31, 2017, $5 million of the total $349 million of gross unrealized losses were from 10 fixed maturity securities with an unrealized loss position of 20% or more of amortized cost for six months or greater, of which $2 million were from investment grade fixed maturity securities.

Mortgage Loans

Mortgage Loans by Portfolio Segment

Mortgage loans are summarized as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
	Carrying Value			% of Total		Carrying Value			% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Mortgage loans:
Commercial	$	7,233		67.9	%	$	6,497		69.9	%
Agricultural	2,200			20.7		1,830			19.7
Residential	1,138			10.7		867			9.3
Subtotal (1)	10,571			99.3		9,194			98.9
Valuation allowances (2)	(46		)	(0.4	)	(40		)	(0.4	)
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	10,525			98.9		9,154			98.5
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	115			1.1		136			1.5
Total mortgage loans, net	$	10,640		100.0	%	$	9,290		100.0	%

(1)

The Company purchases unaffiliated mortgage loans under a master participation agreement from a former affiliate, simultaneously with the former affiliate’s origination or acquisition of mortgage loans. The aggregate amount of unaffiliated mortgage loan participation interests purchased by the Company from the former affiliate during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $1.2 billion, $2.4 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively. In connection with the mortgage loan participations, the former affiliate collected mortgage loan principal and interest payments on the Company’s behalf and the former affiliate remitted such payments to the Company in the amount of $945 million, $1.6 billion and $1.0 billion during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Purchases of mortgage loans from third parties were $420 million and $619 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and were primarily comprised of residential mortgage loans.


(2)	The valuation allowances were primarily from collective evaluation (non-specific loan related).

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs.

See “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for discussion of related party mortgage loans. Information on commercial, agricultural and residential mortgage loans is presented in the tables below. Information on commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs - FVO is presented in Note 9. The Company elects the FVO for certain commercial mortgage loans and related long-term debt that are managed on a total return basis.

Valuation Allowance Methodology

Mortgage loans are considered to be impaired when it is probable that, based upon current information and events, the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due under the loan agreement. Specific valuation allowances are established using the same methodology for all three portfolio segments as the excess carrying value of a loan over either (i) the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate, (ii) the estimated fair value of the loan’s underlying collateral if the loan is in the process of foreclosure or otherwise collateral dependent, or (iii) the loan’s observable market price. A common evaluation framework is used for establishing non-specific valuation allowances for all loan portfolio segments; however, a separate non-specific valuation allowance is calculated and maintained for each loan portfolio segment that is based on inputs unique to each loan portfolio segment. Non-specific valuation allowances are established for pools of loans with similar risk characteristics where a property-specific or market-specific risk has not been identified, but for which the Company expects to incur a credit loss. These evaluations are based upon several loan portfolio segment-specific factors, including the Company’s experience for loan losses, defaults and loss severity, and loss expectations for loans with similar risk characteristics. These evaluations are revised as conditions change and new information becomes available.

Credit Quality of Commercial Mortgage Loans

The credit quality of commercial mortgage loans was as follows at:



	Recorded Investment										Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	Debt Service Coverage Ratios						Total		% of Total
	> 1.20x		1.00x - 1.20x		< 1.00x		Total		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2017
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	6,167	$	293	$	33	$	6,493	89.7	%	$	6,654	90.0	%
65% to 75%	642		—		14		656		9.1		658		8.9
76% to 80%	42		—		9		51		0.7		50		0.7
Greater than 80%	—		9		24		33		0.5		30		0.4
Total	$	6,851	$	302	$	80	$	7,233	100.0	%	$	7,392	100.0	%
December 31, 2016
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	5,718	$	230	$	167	$	6,115	94.1	%	$	6,197	94.3	%
65% to 75%	291		—		19		310		4.8		303		4.6
76% to 80%	34		—		—		34		0.5		33		0.5
Greater than 80%	24		14		—		38		0.6		37		0.6
Total	$	6,067	$	244	$	186	$	6,497	100.0	%	$	6,570	100.0	%

Credit Quality of Agricultural Mortgage Loans

The credit quality of agricultural mortgage loans was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	2,039	92.7	%	$	1,789	97.8	%
65% to 75%	161		7.3		41		2.2
Total	$	2,200	100.0	%	$	1,830	100.0	%

The estimated fair value of agricultural mortgage loans was $2.2 billion and $1.9 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Credit Quality of Residential Mortgage Loans

The credit quality of residential mortgage loans was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Performance indicators:
Performing	$	1,106	97.2	%	$	856	98.7	%
Nonperforming	32		2.8		11		1.3
Total	$	1,138	100.0	%	$	867	100.0	%

The estimated fair value of residential mortgage loans was $1.2 billion and $867 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Past Due, Nonaccrual and Modified Mortgage Loans

The Company has a high quality, well performing, mortgage loan portfolio, with over 99% of all mortgage loans classified as performing at both December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company defines delinquency consistent with industry practice, when mortgage loans are past due as follows: commercial and residential mortgage loans — 60 days and agricultural mortgage loans — 90 days. The Company had no commercial or agricultural mortgage loans past due and no commercial or agricultural mortgage loans in nonaccrual status at either December 31, 2017 or 2016. The recorded investment of residential mortgage loans past due and in nonaccrual status was $32 million and $11 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have a significant amount of mortgage loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring.

Other Invested Assets

Freestanding derivatives with positive estimated fair values and loans to affiliates comprise over 80% of other invested assets. See Note 8 for information about freestanding derivatives with positive estimated fair values and see “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for information regarding loans to affiliates. Other invested assets also includes tax credit and renewable energy partnerships and leveraged leases.

Leveraged Leases

Investment in leveraged leases consisted of the following at:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Rental receivables, net	$	87		$	87
Estimated residual values	14			14
Subtotal	101			101
Unearned income	(35		)	(32		)
Investment in leveraged leases, net of non-recourse debt	$	66		$	69

Rental receivables are generally due in periodic installments. The payment periods for leveraged leases generally range from one to 15 years. For rental receivables, the primary credit quality indicator is whether the rental receivable is performing or nonperforming, which is assessed monthly. The Company generally defines nonperforming rental receivables as those that are 90 days or more past due. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, all leverage leases were performing.

The deferred income tax liability related to leveraged leases was $43 million and $74 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

The carrying value of cash equivalents, which includes securities and other investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase, was $1.0 billion and $4.7 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

Unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturity and equity securities AFS and the effect on DAC, VOBA, DSI and future policy benefits, that would result from the realization of the unrealized gains (losses), are included in net unrealized investment gains (losses) in AOCI.

The components of net unrealized investment gains (losses), included in AOCI, were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities	$	4,722		$	2,600		$	2,283
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI	2			1			(23		)
Total fixed maturity securities	4,724			2,601			2,260
Equity securities	39			32			54
Derivatives	231			397			370
Short-term investments	—			(42		)	—
Other	(8		)	59			79
Subtotal	4,986			3,047			2,763
Amounts allocated from:
Future policy benefits	(2,370		)	(922		)	(126		)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(2		)	(2		)	(1		)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(260		)	(193		)	(198		)
Subtotal	(2,632		)	(1,117		)	(325		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1			—			9
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(495		)	(653		)	(827		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	1,860		$	1,277		$	1,620

The changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	1,277		$	1,620		$	2,628
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized	1			24			15
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the year	1,938			260			(2,303		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:
Future policy benefits	(1,448		)	(796		)	487
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	—			(1		)	1
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(67		)	5			208
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1			(9		)	(5		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	158			174			589
Balance at December 31,	$	1,860		$	1,277		$	1,620
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	583		$	(343	)	$	(1,008	)

Concentrations of Credit Risk

There were no investments in any counterparty that were greater than 10% of the Company’s equity, other than the U.S. government and its agencies, at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Securities Lending

Elements of the securities lending program are presented below at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	3,085	$	5,895
Estimated fair value	$	3,748	$	6,555
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	3,791	$	6,642
Security collateral received from counterparties (3)	$	29	$	27
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	3,823	$	6,571

______________


(1)	Included within fixed maturity securities.


(2)	Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.


(3)	Security collateral received from counterparties may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default, and is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements were as follows at:



	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements								Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements
	Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total		Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	1,626	$	964	$	1,201	$	3,791	$	2,129	$	1,906	$	1,743	$	5,778
U.S. corporate	—		—		—		—		—		480		—		480
Agency RMBS	—		—		—		—		—		—		274		274
Foreign corporate	—		—		—		—		—		58		—		58
Foreign government	—		—		—		—		—		52		—		52
Total	$	1,626	$	964	$	1,201	$	3,791	$	2,129	$	2,496	$	2,017	$	6,642

_____________


(1)	The related loaned security could be returned to the Company on the next business day which would require the Company to immediately return the cash collateral.

If the Company is required to return significant amounts of cash collateral on short notice and is forced to sell securities to meet the return obligation, it may have difficulty selling such collateral that is invested in securities in a timely manner, be forced to sell securities in a volatile or illiquid market for less than what otherwise would have been realized under normal market conditions, or both. The estimated fair value of the securities on loan related to the cash collateral on open at December 31, 2017 was $1.6 billion, all of which were U.S. government and agency securities which, if put back to the Company, could be immediately sold to satisfy the cash requirement.

The reinvestment portfolio acquired with the cash collateral consisted principally of fixed maturity securities (including agency RMBS, U.S. government and agency securities, ABS, U.S. and foreign corporate securities, and non-agency RMBS) with 59% invested in agency RMBS, U.S. government and agency securities, cash equivalents, short-term investments or held in cash at December 31, 2017. If the securities on loan or the reinvestment portfolio become less liquid, the Company has the liquidity resources of most of its general account available to meet any potential cash demands when securities on loan are put back to the Company.

Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral

Invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral are presented below at estimated fair value at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits) (1)	$	8,259	$	7,644
Invested assets held in trust (reinsurance agreements) (2)	2,634		9,054
Invested assets pledged as collateral (3)	3,199		3,548
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust, and pledged as collateral	$	14,092	$	20,246

__________________


(1)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, on deposit with governmental authorities relating to certain policy holder liabilities, of which $34 million of the assets on deposit balance represents restricted cash at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.


(2)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, held in trust relating to certain reinsurance transactions. $42 million and $15 million of the assets held in trust balance represents restricted cash at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


(3)	The Company has pledged invested assets in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Note 4) and derivative transactions (see Note 8).

See “— Securities Lending” for information regarding securities on loan.

Purchased Credit Impaired Investments

Investments acquired with evidence of credit quality deterioration since origination and for which it is probable at the acquisition date that the Company will be unable to collect all contractually required payments are classified as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) investments. For each investment, the excess of the cash flows expected to be collected as of the acquisition date over its acquisition date fair value is referred to as the accretable yield and is recognized as net investment income on an effective yield basis. If subsequently, based on current information and events, it is probable that there is a significant increase in cash flows previously expected to be collected or if actual cash flows are significantly greater than cash flows previously expected to be collected, the accretable yield is adjusted prospectively. The excess of the contractually required payments (including interest) as of the acquisition date over the cash flows expected to be collected as of the acquisition date is referred to as the nonaccretable difference, and this amount is not expected to be realized as net investment income. Decreases in cash flows expected to be collected can result in OTTI.

The Company’s PCI fixed maturity securities were as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Outstanding principal and interest balance (1)	$	1,237	$	1,458
Carrying value (2)	$	1,020	$	1,113

______________


(1)	Represents the contractually required payments, which is the sum of contractual principal, whether or not currently due, and accrued interest.


(2)	Estimated fair value plus accrued interest.

The following table presents information about PCI fixed maturity securities acquired during the periods indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Contractually required payments (including interest)	$	3	$	558
Cash flows expected to be collected (1)	$	3	$	483
Fair value of investments acquired	$	2	$	341

______________


(1)	Represents undiscounted principal and interest cash flow expectations, at the date of acquisition.

The following table presents activity for the accretable yield on PCI fixed maturity securities for:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Accretable yield, January 1,	$	419		$	400
Investments purchased	1			142
Accretion recognized in earnings	(67		)	(66		)
Disposals	(10		)	(8		)
Reclassification (to) from nonaccretable difference	34			(49		)
Accretable yield, December 31,	$	377		$	419

Collectively Significant Equity Method Investments

The Company holds investments in real estate joint ventures, real estate funds and other limited partnership interests consisting of leveraged buy-out funds, hedge funds, private equity funds, joint ventures and other funds. The portion of these investments accounted for under the equity method had a carrying value of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2017. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss related to these equity method investments is limited to the carrying value of these investments plus unfunded commitments of $1.1 billion at December 31, 2017. Except for certain real estate joint ventures, the Company’s investments in real estate funds and other limited partnership interests are generally of a passive nature in that the Company does not participate in the management of the entities.

As described in Note 1, the Company generally records its share of earnings in its equity method investments using a three-month lag methodology and within net investment income. Aggregate net investment income from these equity method investments exceeded 10% of the Company’s consolidated pre-tax income (loss) for two of the three most recent annual periods: 2017 and 2015. This aggregated summarized financial data does not represent the Company’s proportionate share of the assets, liabilities, or earnings of such entities.

The aggregated summarized financial data presented below reflects the latest available financial information and is as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Aggregate total assets of these entities totaled $328.9 billion and $285.1 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Aggregate total liabilities of these entities totaled $39.8 billion and $26.3 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Aggregate net income (loss) of these entities totaled $36.2 billion, $21.3 billion and $13.7 billion for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Aggregate net income (loss) from the underlying entities in which the Company invests is primarily comprised of investment income, including recurring investment income and realized and unrealized investment gains (losses).

Variable Interest Entities

The Company has invested in legal entities that are VIEs. In certain instances, the Company holds both the power to direct the most significant activities of the entity, as well as an economic interest in the entity and, as such, is deemed to be the primary beneficiary or consolidator of the entity. The determination of the VIE’s primary beneficiary requires an evaluation of the contractual and implied rights and obligations associated with each party’s relationship with or involvement in the entity, an estimate of the entity’s expected losses and expected residual returns and the allocation of such estimates to each party involved in the entity.

Consolidated VIEs

Creditors or beneficial interest holders of VIEs where the Company is the primary beneficiary have no recourse to the general credit of the Company, as the Company’s obligation to the VIEs is limited to the amount of its committed investment.

The following table presents the total assets and total liabilities relating to VIEs for which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
MRSC (collateral financing arrangement ) (1)	$	—	$	3,422
CSEs: (2)
Assets:
Mortgage loans (commercial mortgage loans)	115		136
Accrued investment income	1		1
Total assets	$	116	$	137
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	$	11	$	23
Other liabilities	—		1
Total liabilities	$	11	$	24

______________


(1)	In April 2017, these assets were liquidated and the proceeds were used to repay the MRSC collateral financing arrangement (see Note 3).

(2)

The Company consolidates entities that are structured as CMBS. The assets of these entities can only be used to settle their respective liabilities, and under no circumstances is the Company liable for any principal or interest shortfalls should any arise. The Company’s exposure was limited to that of its remaining investment in these entities of $86 million and $95 million at estimated fair value at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Unconsolidated VIEs

The carrying amount and maximum exposure to loss relating to VIEs in which the Company holds a significant variable interest but is not the primary beneficiary and which have not been consolidated were as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)		Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities AFS:
Structured Securities (2)	$	11,136	$	11,136	$	12,809	$	12,809
U.S. and foreign corporate	501		501		536		536
Other limited partnership interests	1,509		2,460		1,491		2,287
Real estate joint ventures	24		27		17		22
Other investments (3)	47		52		60		66
Total	$	13,217	$	14,176	$	14,913	$	15,720

______________

(1)

The maximum exposure to loss relating to fixed maturity and equity securities AFS is equal to their carrying amounts or the carrying amounts of retained interests. The maximum exposure to loss relating to other limited partnership interests and real estate joint ventures is equal to the carrying amounts plus any unfunded commitments. Such a maximum loss would be expected to occur only upon bankruptcy of the issuer or investee.


(2)	For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor in mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities issued by trusts that do not have substantial equity.


(3)	Other investments are comprised of other invested assets and non-redeemable preferred stock.

As described in Note 14, the Company makes commitments to fund partnership investments in the normal course of business. Excluding these commitments, the Company did not provide financial or other support to investees designated as VIEs during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Investment income:
Fixed maturity securities	$	2,347	$	2,567	$	2,398
Equity securities	12		19		19
Mortgage loans	442		393		367
Policy loans	49		54		54
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	53		32		108
Other limited partnership interests	182		163		134
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	30		20		9
Other	25		25		22
Subtotal	3,140		3,273		3,111
Less: Investment expenses	175		173		126
Subtotal, net	2,965		3,100		2,985
FVO CSEs — interest income — commercial mortgage loans	8		11		16
Net investment income	$	2,973	$	3,111	$	3,001

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs.

See “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for discussion of related party net investment income and investment expenses.

Net Investment Gains (Losses)

Components of Net Investment Gains (Losses)

The components of net investment gains (losses) were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized — by sector and industry:
U.S. and foreign corporate securities — by industry:
Industrial	$	—		$	(16	)	$	(3	)
Consumer	—			—			(8		)
Utility	—			—			(6		)
Total U.S. and foreign corporate securities	—			(16		)	(17		)
RMBS	—			(6		)	(14		)
State and political subdivision	(1		)	—			—
OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings	(1		)	(22		)	(31		)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	(25		)	(28		)	(60		)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities	(26		)	(50		)	(91		)
Total gains (losses) on equity securities:
OTTI losses on equity securities recognized in earnings	(4		)	(2		)	(3		)
Equity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	26			10			18
Total gains (losses) on equity securities	22			8			15
Mortgage loans	(9		)	5			(11		)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	4			(34		)	98
Other limited partnership interests	(11		)	(7		)	(1		)
Other	(4		)	11			(2		)
Subtotal	(24		)	(67		)	8
FVO CSEs:
Commercial mortgage loans	(3		)	(2		)	(7		)
Long-term debt - related to commercial mortgage loans	1			1			4
Non-investment portfolio gains (losses)	(1		)	1			—
Subtotal	(3		)	—			(3		)
Total net investment gains (losses)	$	(27	)	$	(67	)	$	5

See “— Variable Interest Entities” for discussion of CSEs.

See “— Related Party Investment Transactions” for discussion of related party net investment gains (losses) related to transfers of invested assets.

Sales or Disposals and Impairments of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

Investment gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on a specific identification basis. Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains (losses) were as shown in the table below.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
	Fixed Maturity Securities									Equity Securities
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	11,974		$	39,210		$	32,085		$	68		$	48		$	80
Gross investment gains	$	58		$	253		$	184		$	27		$	10		$	26
Gross investment losses	(83		)	(281		)	(244		)	(1		)	—			(8		)
OTTI losses	(1		)	(22		)	(31		)	(4		)	(2		)	(3		)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(26	)	$	(50	)	$	(91	)	$	22		$	8		$	15

Credit Loss Rollforward

The table below presents a rollforward of the cumulative credit loss component of OTTI loss recognized in earnings on fixed maturity securities still held for which a portion of the OTTI loss was recognized in OCI:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	28		$	66
Additions:
Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired	—			5
Reductions:
Sales (maturities, pay downs or prepayments) of securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI	(28		)	(42		)
Increase in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI	—			(1		)
Balance at December 31,	$	—		$	28

Related Party Investment Transactions

The Company previously transferred fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans, real estate and real estate joint ventures, to and from former affiliates, which were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016		2015
	(In millions)
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	$	292		$	1,495	$	185
Amortized cost of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	$	294		$	1,400	$	169
Net investment gains (losses) recognized on transfers	$	(2	)	$	27	$	16
Change in additional paid-in-capital recognized on transfers	$	—		$	68	$	—
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred from former affiliates	$	—		$	5,582	$	928

In April 2016 and in November 2016, the Company received transfers of investments and cash and cash equivalents of $5.2 billion for the recapture of risks related to certain single premium deferred annuity contracts previously reinsured to MLIC, a former affiliate, which are included in the table above. See Note 6 for additional information related to these transfers.

At December 31, 2016, the Company had $1.1 billion of loans due from MetLife, Inc., which were included in other invested assets. These loans were carried at fixed interest rates of 4.21% and 5.10%, payable semiannually, and were due on September 30, 2032 and December 31, 2033, respectively. In April 2017, these loans were satisfied in a non-cash exchange for $1.1 billion of notes due to MetLife, Inc. See Notes 3 and 10.

In January 2017, MLIC recaptured risks related to guaranteed minimum benefit guarantees on certain variable annuities being reinsured by the Company. The Company transferred investments and cash and cash equivalents which are included in the table above. See Note 6 for additional information related to the transfer.

In March 2017, the Company sold an operating joint venture with a book value of $89 million to MLIC for $286 million. The operating joint venture was accounted for under the equity method and included in other invested assets. This sale resulted in an increase in additional paid-in capital, which is included in shareholder’s equity (See Note 11) of $202 million in the first quarter of 2017.

The Company had affiliated loans outstanding to wholly owned real estate subsidiaries of MLIC which were fully repaid in cash by December 2015. Net investment income and mortgage loan prepayment income earned from these affiliated loans was $39 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Company receives investment administrative services from MetLife Investment Advisors, LLC (“MLIA”), a related party investment manager. The related investment administrative service charges were $93 million, $98 million, and $79 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Derivatives

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

8. Derivatives

Accounting for Derivatives

See Note 1 for a description of the Company’s accounting policies for derivatives and Note 9 for information about the fair value hierarchy for derivatives.

Derivatives are financial instruments with values derived from interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, credit spreads and/or other financial indices. Derivatives may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. Certain of the Company’s OTC derivatives are cleared and settled through central clearing counterparties (“OTC-cleared”), while others are bilateral contracts between two counterparties (“OTC-bilateral”). The types of derivatives the Company uses include swaps, forwards, futures and option contracts. To a lesser extent, the Company uses credit default swaps to synthetically replicate investment risks and returns which are not readily available in the cash markets.

Interest Rate Derivatives

The Company uses a variety of interest rate derivatives to reduce its exposure to changes in interest rates, including interest rate swaps, caps, floors, swaptions, futures and forwards.

Interest rate swaps are used by the Company primarily to reduce market risks from changes in interest rates and to alter interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (duration mismatches). In an interest rate swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between fixed rate and floating rate interest amounts as calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. The Company utilizes interest rate swaps in fair value, cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships.

Interest rate total return swaps are swaps whereby the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between the economic risk and reward of an asset or a market index and the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. No cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract. Cash is paid and received over the life of the contract based on the terms of the swap. These transactions are entered into pursuant to master agreements that provide for a single net payment to be made by the counterparty at each due date. Interest rate total return swaps are used by the Company to reduce market risks from changes in interest rates and to alter interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities (duration mismatches). The Company utilizes interest rate total return swaps in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

The Company purchases interest rate caps and floors primarily to protect its floating rate liabilities against rises in interest rates above a specified level, and against interest rate exposure arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities, as well as to protect its minimum rate guarantee liabilities against declines in interest rates below a specified level, respectively. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased caps and floors by entering into offsetting written caps and floors. The Company utilizes interest rate caps and floors in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

In exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of interest rate securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded interest rate (Treasury and swap) futures are used primarily to hedge mismatches between the duration of assets in a portfolio and the duration of liabilities supported by those assets, to hedge against changes in value of securities the Company owns or anticipates acquiring, to hedge against changes in interest rates on anticipated liability issuances by replicating Treasury or swap curve performance, and to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. The Company utilizes exchange-traded interest rate futures in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

Swaptions are used by the Company to hedge interest rate risk associated with the Company’s long-term liabilities and invested assets. A swaption is an option to enter into a swap with a forward starting effective date. In certain instances, the Company locks in the economic impact of existing purchased swaptions by entering into offsetting written swaptions. The Company pays a premium for purchased swaptions and receives a premium for written swaptions. The Company utilizes swaptions in nonqualifying hedging relationships. Swaptions are included in interest rate options.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Derivatives

The Company uses foreign currency swaps to reduce the risk from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates associated with its assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. In a foreign currency swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between one currency and another at a fixed exchange rate, generally set at inception, calculated by reference to an agreed upon notional amount. The notional amount of each currency is exchanged at the inception and termination of the currency swap by each party. The Company utilizes foreign currency swaps in cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships.

To a lesser extent, the Company uses foreign currency forwards in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

Credit Derivatives

The Company enters into purchased credit default swaps to hedge against credit-related changes in the value of its investments. In a credit default swap transaction, the Company agrees with another party to pay, at specified intervals, a premium to hedge credit risk. If a credit event occurs, as defined by the contract, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the delivery of par quantities of the referenced investment equal to the specified swap notional amount in exchange for the payment of cash amounts by the counterparty equal to the par value of the investment surrendered. Credit events vary by type of issuer but typically include bankruptcy, failure to pay debt obligations, repudiation, moratorium, involuntary restructuring or governmental intervention. In each case, payout on a credit default swap is triggered only after the Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) deems that a credit event has occurred. The Company utilizes credit default swaps in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

The Company enters into written credit default swaps to create synthetic credit investments that are either more expensive to acquire or otherwise unavailable in the cash markets. These transactions are a combination of a derivative and one or more cash instruments, such as U.S. government and agency securities or other fixed maturity securities. These credit default swaps are not designated as hedging instruments.

Equity Derivatives

The Company uses a variety of equity derivatives to reduce its exposure to equity market risk, including equity index options, equity variance swaps, exchange-traded equity futures and equity total return swaps.

Equity index options are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. To hedge against adverse changes in equity indices, the Company enters into contracts to sell the equity index within a limited time at a contracted price. The contracts will be net settled in cash based on differentials in the indices at the time of exercise and the strike price. Certain of these contracts may also contain settlement provisions linked to interest rates. In certain instances, the Company may enter into a combination of transactions to hedge adverse changes in equity indices within a pre-determined range through the purchase and sale of options. The Company utilizes equity index options in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

Equity variance swaps are used by the Company primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. In an equity variance swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange amounts in the future, based on changes in equity volatility over a defined period. The Company utilizes equity variance swaps in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

In exchange-traded equity futures transactions, the Company agrees to purchase or sell a specified number of contracts, the value of which is determined by the different classes of equity securities, and to post variation margin on a daily basis in an amount equal to the difference in the daily market values of those contracts. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures with regulated futures commission merchants that are members of the exchange. Exchange-traded equity futures are used primarily to hedge minimum guarantees embedded in certain variable annuity products offered by the Company. The Company utilizes exchange-traded equity futures in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

In an equity total return swap, the Company agrees with another party to exchange, at specified intervals, the difference between the economic risk and reward of an asset or a market index and the LIBOR, calculated by reference to an agreed notional amount. No cash is exchanged at the outset of the contract. Cash is paid and received over the life of the contract based on the terms of the swap. The Company uses equity total return swaps to hedge its equity market guarantees in certain of its insurance products. Equity total return swaps can be used as hedges or to create synthetic investments. The Company utilizes equity total return swaps in nonqualifying hedging relationships.

Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives

The following table presents the primary underlying risk exposure, gross notional amount, and estimated fair value of the Company’s derivatives, excluding embedded derivatives, held at:



	Primary Underlying Risk Exposure	December 31,
		2017						2016
				Estimated Fair Value						Estimated Fair Value
		Gross Notional Amount		Assets		Liabilities		Gross Notional Amount		Assets		Liabilities
		(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Fair value hedges:
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	$	175	$	44	$	—	$	310	$	41	$	—
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	27		5		—		45		7		—
Foreign currency swaps	Foreign currency exchange rate	1,762		86		75		1,420		186		10
Subtotal		1,789		91		75		1,465		193		10
Total qualifying hedges		1,964		135		75		1,775		234		10
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	20,213		922		774		28,175		1,928		1,688
Interest rate floors	Interest rate	—		—		—		2,100		5		2
Interest rate caps	Interest rate	2,671		7		—		12,042		25		—
Interest rate futures	Interest rate	282		1		—		1,288		9		—
Interest rate options	Interest rate	24,600		133		63		15,520		136		—
Interest rate total return swaps	Interest rate	—		—		—		3,876		—		611
Foreign currency swaps	Foreign currency exchange rate	1,103		69		41		1,250		153		4
Foreign currency forwards	Foreign currency exchange rate	130		—		2		158		9		—
Credit default swaps — purchased	Credit	65		—		1		34		—		—
Credit default swaps — written	Credit	1,878		40		—		1,891		28		—
Equity futures	Equity market	2,713		15		—		8,037		38		—
Equity index options	Equity market	47,066		794		1,664		37,501		897		934
Equity variance swaps	Equity market	8,998		128		430		14,894		140		517
Equity total return swaps	Equity market	1,767		—		79		2,855		1		117
Total non-designated or nonqualifying derivatives		111,486		2,109		3,054		129,621		3,369		3,873
Total		$	113,450	$	2,244	$	3,129	$	131,396	$	3,603	$	3,883

Based on gross notional amounts, a substantial portion of the Company’s derivatives was not designated or did not qualify as part of a hedging relationship at both December 31, 2017 and 2016. The Company’s use of derivatives includes (i) derivatives that serve as macro hedges of the Company’s exposure to various risks and that generally do not qualify for hedge accounting due to the criteria required under the portfolio hedging rules; (ii) derivatives that economically hedge insurance liabilities that contain mortality or morbidity risk and that generally do not qualify for hedge accounting because the lack of these risks in the derivatives cannot support an expectation of a highly effective hedging relationship; (iii) derivatives that economically hedge embedded derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting because the changes in estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives are already recorded in net income; and (iv) written credit default swaps that are used to create synthetic credit investments and that do not qualify for hedge accounting because they do not involve a hedging relationship. For these nonqualified derivatives, changes in market factors can lead to the recognition of fair value changes on the statement of operations without an offsetting gain or loss recognized in earnings for the item being hedged.

The following table presents earned income on derivatives:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Qualifying hedges:
Net investment income	$	21	$	19	$	11
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	—		—		(2		)
Nonqualifying hedges:
Net derivative gains (losses)	314		460		361
Policyholder benefits and claims	8		16		14
Total	$	343	$	495	$	384

The following tables present the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized for derivatives and gains (losses) pertaining to hedged items presented in net derivative gains (losses):



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	2		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	2			(2		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	—			—			6			—			1
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	8			(9		)	—			—			(153		)
Total cash flow hedges	8			(9		)	6			—			(152		)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(325		)	—			—			8			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	(98		)	(32		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	21			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(2,584		)	—			(1		)	(341		)	—
Embedded derivatives	1,237			—			—			(16		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(1,749		)	(32		)	(1		)	(349		)	—
Total	$	(1,739	)	$	(43	)	$	5		$	(349	)	$	(152	)



	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	1		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	1			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	35			—			5			—			28
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	3			(2		)	—			—			42
Total cash flow hedges	38			(2		)	5			—			70
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(2,873		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	76			(14		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	10			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(1,724		)	—			(6		)	(320		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(1,741		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(6,252		)	(14		)	(6		)	(328		)	—
Total	$	(6,213	)	$	(17	)	$	(1	)	$	(328	)	$	70



	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	3		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	3			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	3			—			3			—			16
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	—			1			—			—			79
Total cash flow hedges	3			1			3			—			95
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(67		)	—			—			5			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	44			(7		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	(14		)	—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(476		)	—			(4		)	(25		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(344		)	—			—			21			—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(857		)	(7		)	(4		)	1			—
Total	$	(851	)	$	(7	)	$	(1	)	$	1		$	95

______________


(1)	Includes gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges. Ineffective portion of the gains (losses) recognized in income is not significant.


(2)	Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships. Hedged items in fair value hedging relationship includes fixed rate liabilities reported in policyholder account balances or future policy benefits and fixed maturity securities.


(3)	Includes changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures and gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges.


(4)	Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.


(5)	All components of each derivative's gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

In certain instances, the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transactions were no longer probable of occurring. Because certain of the forecasted transactions also were not probable of occurring within two months of the anticipated date, the Company reclassified amounts from AOCI into net derivative gains (losses). These amounts were $9 million, $1 million and $3 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the maximum length of time over which the Company was hedging its exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transactions did not exceed two years and three years, respectively.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the balance in AOCI associated with cash flow hedges was $231 million and $397 million, respectively.

Credit Derivatives

In connection with synthetically created credit investment transactions, the Company writes credit default swaps for which it receives a premium to insure credit risk. Such credit derivatives are included within the nonqualifying derivatives and derivatives for purposes other than hedging table. If a credit event occurs, as defined by the contract, the contract may be cash settled or it may be settled gross by the Company paying the counterparty the specified swap notional amount in exchange for the delivery of par quantities of the referenced credit obligation. The Company can terminate these contracts at any time through cash settlement with the counterparty at an amount equal to the then current estimated fair value of the credit default swaps.

The following table presents the estimated fair value, maximum amount of future payments and weighted average years to maturity of written credit default swaps at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
Rating Agency Designation of Referenced Credit Obligations (1)	Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps		Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps		Weighted Average Years to Maturity (2)	Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps		Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps		Weighted Average Years to Maturity (2)
	(Dollars in millions)
Aaa/Aa/A	$	12	$	558	2.8	$	9	478		3.6
Baa	28		1,295		4.7	19		1,393		4.4
Ba	—		25		4.5	—		20		2.7
Total	$	40	$	1,878	4.1	$	28	$	1,891	4.2

______________

(1)

Includes both single name credit default swaps that may be referenced to the credit of corporations, foreign governments, or state and political subdivisions and credit default swap referencing indices. The rating agency designations are based on availability and the midpoint of the applicable ratings among Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”), S&P and Fitch Ratings. If no rating is available from a rating agency, then an internally developed rating is used.


(2)	The weighted average years to maturity of the credit default swaps is calculated based on weighted average gross notional amounts.

Credit Risk

The Company may be exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by its counterparties to derivatives. Generally, the current credit exposure of the Company’s derivatives is limited to the net positive estimated fair value of derivatives at the reporting date after taking into consideration the existence of master netting or similar agreements and any collateral received pursuant to such agreements.

The Company manages its credit risk related to derivatives by entering into transactions with creditworthy counterparties and establishing and monitoring exposure limits. The Company’s OTC-bilateral derivative transactions are generally governed by ISDA Master Agreements which provide for legally enforceable set-off and close-out netting of exposures to specific counterparties in the event of early termination of a transaction, which includes, but is not limited to, events of default and bankruptcy. In the event of an early termination, the Company is permitted to set off receivables from the counterparty against payables to the same counterparty arising out of all included transactions. Substantially all of the Company’s ISDA Master Agreements also include Credit Support Annex provisions which require both the pledging and accepting of collateral in connection with its OTC-bilateral derivatives.

The Company’s OTC-cleared derivatives are effected through central clearing counterparties and its exchange-traded derivatives are effected through regulated exchanges. Such positions are marked to market and margined on a daily basis (both initial margin and variation margin), and the Company has minimal exposure to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to such derivatives.

See Note 9 for a description of the impact of credit risk on the valuation of derivatives.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s net derivative assets and net derivative liabilities after the application of master netting agreements and collateral were as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017						2016
Derivatives Subject to a Master Netting Arrangement or a Similar Arrangement	Assets			Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
	(In millions)
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives:
OTC-bilateral (1)	$	2,222		$	3,080		$	3,394		$	2,929
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded (1) (6)	69			40			313			905
Total gross estimated fair value of derivatives (1)	2,291			3,120			3,707			3,834
Amounts offset on the consolidated balance sheets	—			—			—			—
Estimated fair value of derivatives presented on the consolidated balance sheets (1) (6)	2,291			3,120			3,707			3,834
Gross amounts not offset on the consolidated balance sheets:
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives: (2)
OTC-bilateral	(1,942		)	(1,942		)	(2,231		)	(2,231		)
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	(1		)	(1		)	(165		)	(165		)
Cash collateral: (3), (4)
OTC-bilateral	(247		)	—			(634		)	—
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	(27		)	(39		)	(91		)	(740		)
Securities collateral: (5)
OTC-bilateral	(31		)	(1,138		)	(429		)	(698		)
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	—			—			—			—
Net amount after application of master netting agreements and collateral	$	43		$	—		$	157		$	—

______________


(1)	At December 31, 2017 and 2016, derivative assets included income or (expense) accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of $47 million and $104 million, respectively, and derivative liabilities included (income) or expense accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of ($9) million and ($49) million, respectively.


(2)	Estimated fair value of derivatives is limited to the amount that is subject to set-off and includes income or expense accruals.


(3)	Cash collateral received by the Company for OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives is included in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments or in fixed maturity securities, and the obligation to return it is included in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions on the balance sheet.

(4)

The receivable for the return of cash collateral provided by the Company is inclusive of initial margin on exchange-traded and OTC-cleared derivatives and is included in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables on the balance sheet. The amount of cash collateral offset in the table above is limited to the net estimated fair value of derivatives after application of netting agreements. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company received excess cash collateral of $93 million and $3 million, respectively, and provided excess cash collateral of $5 million and $25 million, respectively, which is not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation.

(5)

Securities collateral received by the Company is held in separate custodial accounts and is not recorded on the balance sheet. Subject to certain constraints, the Company is permitted by contract to sell or re-pledge this collateral, but at December 31, 2017 none of the collateral had been sold or re-pledged. Securities collateral pledged by the Company is reported in fixed maturity securities on the balance sheet. Subject to certain constraints, the counterparties are permitted by contract to sell or re-pledge this collateral. The amount of securities collateral offset in the table above is limited to the net estimated fair value of derivatives after application of netting agreements and cash collateral. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company received excess securities collateral with an estimated fair value of $337 million and $135 million, respectively, for its OTC-bilateral derivatives, which are not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company provided excess securities collateral with an estimated fair value of $471 million and $108 million, respectively, for its OTC-bilateral derivatives, $426 million and $630 million, respectively, for its OTC-cleared derivatives, and $118 million and $453 million, respectively, for its exchange-traded derivatives, which are not included in the table above due to the foregoing limitation.


(6)	Effective January 3, 2017, the CME amended its rulebook, resulting in the characterization of variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. See Note 1 for further information on the CME amendments.

The Company’s collateral arrangements for its OTC-bilateral derivatives generally require the counterparty in a net liability position, after considering the effect of netting agreements, to pledge collateral when the collateral amount owed by that counterparty reaches a minimum transfer amount. A small number of these arrangements also include credit-contingent provisions that include a threshold above which collateral must be posted. Such agreements provide for a reduction of these thresholds (on a sliding scale that converges toward zero) in the event of downgrades in the credit ratings of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, and/or the counterparty. In addition, substantially all of the Company’s netting agreements for derivatives contain provisions that require both the Company and the counterparty to maintain a specific investment grade credit rating from each of Moody’s and S&P. If a party’s financial strength or credit ratings, as applicable, were to fall below that specific investment grade credit rating, that party would be in violation of these provisions, and the other party to the derivatives could terminate the transactions and demand immediate settlement and payment based on such party’s reasonable valuation of the derivatives.

The following table presents the estimated fair value of the Company’s OTC-bilateral derivatives that are in a net liability position after considering the effect of netting agreements, together with the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the collateral pledged. The Company’s collateral agreements require both parties to be fully collateralized, as such, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company would not be required to post additional collateral as a result of a downgrade in financial strength rating. OTC-bilateral derivatives that are not subject to collateral agreements are excluded from this table.



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Estimated fair value of derivatives in a net liability position (1)	$	1,138	$	698
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided:
Fixed maturity securities	$	1,414	$	777

______________


(1)	After taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements.

Embedded Derivatives

The Company issues certain products or purchases certain investments that contain embedded derivatives that are required to be separated from their host contracts and accounted for as freestanding derivatives. These host contracts principally include: variable annuities with guaranteed minimum benefits, including GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs; related party ceded reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs; related party assumed reinsurance of guaranteed minimum benefits related to GMWBs and certain GMIBs; funds withheld on assumed and ceded reinsurance; assumed reinsurance on fixed deferred annuities; fixed annuities with equity indexed returns; and certain debt and equity securities.

The following table presents the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the Company’s embedded derivatives that have been separated from their host contracts at:



		December 31,
	Balance Sheet Location	2017			2016
		(In millions)
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts:
Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits	Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	227		$	409
Options embedded in debt or equity securities	Investments	(52		)	(49		)
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts		$	175		$	360
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts:
Direct guaranteed minimum benefits	Policyholder account balances	$	1,122		$	2,237
Assumed reinsurance on fixed deferred annuities	Policyholder account balances	1			—
Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits	Policyholder account balances	437			741
Fixed annuities with equity indexed returns	Policyholder account balances	674			192
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts		$	2,234		$	3,170

The following table presents changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net derivative gains (losses) (1), (2)	$	1,237		$	(1,741	)	$	(344	)
Policyholder benefits and claims	$	(16	)	$	(4	)	$	21

______________


(1)	The valuation of direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits includes a nonperformance risk adjustment. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses) in connection with this adjustment were $337 million, $244 million and $26 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


(2)	See Note 6 for discussion of related party net derivative gains (losses).

Fair Value

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value

9. Fair Value

When developing estimated fair values, the Company considers three broad valuation techniques: (i) the market approach, (ii) the income approach, and (iii) the cost approach. The Company determines the most appropriate valuation technique to use, given what is being measured and the availability of sufficient inputs, giving priority to observable inputs. The Company categorizes its assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value into a three-level hierarchy, based on the significant input with the lowest level in its valuation. The input levels are as follows:



Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company defines active markets based on average trading volume for equity securities. The size of the bid/ask spread is used as an indicator of market activity for fixed maturity securities.



Level 2	Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs can include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities other than quoted prices in Level 1, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other significant inputs that are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.



Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the determination of estimated fair value of the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

The assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy, including those items for which the Company has elected the FVO, are presented below at:



	December 31, 2017
	Fair Value Hierarchy
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	—	$	21,491	$	889	$	22,380
U.S. government and agency	8,002		7,911		—		15,913
RMBS	—		6,836		981		7,817
Foreign corporate	—		5,723		1,048		6,771
State and political subdivision	—		4,098		—		4,098
CMBS	—		3,155		136		3,291
ABS	—		1,691		105		1,796
Foreign government	—		1,262		5		1,267
Total fixed maturity securities	8,002		52,167		3,164		63,333
Equity securities	18		90		124		232
Short-term investments	135		120		14		269
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	—		115		—		115
Derivative assets: (1)
Interest rate	1		1,111		—		1,112
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		155		—		155
Credit	—		30		10		40
Equity market	15		773		149		937
Total derivative assets	16		2,069		159		2,244
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (2)	—		—		227		227
Separate account assets	410		109,741		5		110,156
Total assets	$	8,581	$	164,302	$	3,693	$	176,576
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities: (1)
Interest rate	$	—	$	837	$	—	$	837
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		117		1		118
Credit	—		1		—		1
Equity market	—		1,736		437		2,173
Total derivative liabilities	—		2,691		438		3,129
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (2)	—		—		2,234		2,234
Long-term debt of CSEs — FVO	—		11		—		11
Total liabilities	$	—	$	2,702	$	2,672	$	5,374



	December 31, 2016
	Fair Value Hierarchy						Total Estimated Fair Value
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	—	$	20,221	$	1,444	$	21,665
U.S. government and agency	6,110		6,806		—		12,916
RMBS	—		6,627		1,313		7,940
Foreign corporate	—		5,257		866		6,123
State and political subdivision	—		3,841		17		3,858
CMBS	—		3,529		167		3,696
ABS	—		2,383		215		2,598
Foreign government	—		1,103		—		1,103
Total fixed maturity securities	6,110		49,767		4,022		59,899
Equity securities	39		124		137		300
Short-term investments	702		568		2		1,272
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	—		136		—		136
Derivative assets: (1)
Interest rate	9		2,142		—		2,151
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		348		—		348
Credit	—		20		8		28
Equity market	37		860		179		1,076
Total derivative assets	46		3,370		187		3,603
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (2)	—		—		409		409
Separate account assets	720		104,616		10		105,346
Total assets	$	7,617	$	158,581	$	4,767	$	170,965
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities: (1)
Interest rate	$	—	$	1,690	$	611	$	2,301
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		14		—		14
Equity market	—		1,038		530		1,568
Total derivative liabilities	—		2,742		1,141		3,883
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (2)	—		—		3,170		3,170
Long-term debt of CSEs — FVO	—		23		—		23
Total liabilities	$	—	$	2,765	$	4,311	$	7,076

______________

(1)

Derivative assets are presented within other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheets and derivative liabilities are presented within other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The amounts are presented gross in the tables above to reflect the presentation on the consolidated balance sheets, but are presented net for purposes of the rollforward in the Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) tables.

(2)

Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts are presented within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables and other invested assets on the consolidated balance sheets. Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts are presented within policyholder account balances, on the consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, debt and equity securities also included embedded derivatives of ($52) million and ($49) million, respectively.

Valuation Controls and Procedures

The Company monitors and provides oversight of valuation controls and policies for securities, mortgage loans and derivatives, which are primarily executed by MLIA. The valuation methodologies used to determine fair values prioritize the use of observable market prices and market-based parameters and determines that judgmental valuation adjustments, when applied, are based upon established policies and are applied consistently over time. The valuation methodologies for securities, mortgage loans and derivatives are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised when necessary, based on changing market conditions. In addition, the Chief Accounting Officer periodically reports to the Audit Committee of Brighthouse’s Board of Directors regarding compliance with fair value accounting standards.

The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities is based on quoted market prices, where available. The Company assesses whether prices received represent a reasonable estimate of fair value through controls designed to ensure valuations represent an exit price. MLIA performs several controls, including certain monthly controls, which include, but are not limited to, analysis of portfolio returns to corresponding benchmark returns, comparing a sample of executed prices of securities sold to the fair value estimates, reviewing the bid/ask spreads to assess activity, comparing prices from multiple independent pricing services and ongoing due diligence to confirm that independent pricing services use market-based parameters. The process includes a determination of the observability of inputs used in estimated fair values received from independent pricing services or brokers by assessing whether these inputs can be corroborated by observable market data. Independent non-binding broker quotes, also referred to herein as “consensus pricing,” are used for non-significant portion of the portfolio. Prices received from independent brokers are assessed to determine if they represent a reasonable estimate of fair value by considering such pricing relative to the current market dynamics and current pricing for similar financial instruments. Fixed maturity securities priced using independent non-binding broker quotations represent less than 1% of the total estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities and 5% of the total estimated fair value of Level 3 fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2017.

MLIA also applies a formal process to challenge any prices received from independent pricing services that are not considered representative of estimated fair value. If prices received from independent pricing services are not considered reflective of market activity or representative of estimated fair value, independent non-binding broker quotations are obtained. If obtaining an independent non-binding broker quotation is unsuccessful, MLIA will use the last available price.

The Company reviews outputs of MLIA’s controls and performs additional controls, including certain monthly controls, which include but are not limited to, performing balance sheet analytics to assess reasonableness of period to period pricing changes, including any price adjustments. Price adjustments are applied if prices or quotes received from independent pricing services or brokers are not considered reflective of market activity or representative of estimated fair value. The Company did not have significant price adjustments during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Determination of Fair Value

Fixed maturities

The fair values for actively traded marketable bonds, primarily U.S. government and agency securities, are determined using the quoted market prices and are classified as Level 1 assets. For fixed maturities classified as Level 2 assets, fair values are determined using either a market or income approach and are valued based on a variety of observable inputs as described below.

U.S. corporate and foreign corporate securities: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being quoted prices in markets that are not active, benchmark yields, spreads off benchmark yields, new issuances, issuer rating, trades of identical or comparable securities, or duration. Privately-placed securities are valued using the additional key inputs: market yield curve, call provisions, observable prices and spreads for similar public or private securities that incorporate the credit quality and industry sector of the issuer, and delta spread adjustments to reflect specific credit-related issues.

U.S. government and agency, state and political subdivision and foreign government securities: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being quoted prices in markets that are not active, benchmark U.S. Treasury yield or other yields, spread off the U.S. Treasury yield curve for the identical security, issuer ratings and issuer spreads, broker dealer quotes, and comparable securities that are actively traded.

Structured securities: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary inputs being quoted prices in markets that are not active, spreads for actively traded securities, spreads off benchmark yields, expected prepayment speeds and volumes, current and forecasted loss severity, ratings, geographic region, weighted average coupon and weighted average maturity, average delinquency rates and debt-service coverage ratios. Other issuance-specific information is also used, including, but not limited to; collateral type, structure of the security, vintage of the loans, payment terms of the underlying asset, payment priority within tranche, and deal performance.

Equity securities, short-term investments, commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs ‑ FVO and long-term debt of CSEs - FVO

The fair value for actively traded equity and short-term investments are determined using quoted market prices and are classified as Level 1 assets. For financial instruments classified as Level 2 assets or liabilities, fair values are determined using a market approach and are valued based on a variety of observable inputs as described below.

Equity securities and short-term investments: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary input being quoted prices in markets that are not active.

Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs - FVO and long-term debt of CSEs - FVO: Fair value is determined using third-party commercial pricing services, with the primary input being quoted securitization market price determined principally by independent pricing services using observable inputs or quoted prices or reported NAV provided by the fund managers.

Derivatives

The fair values for exchange-traded derivatives are determined using the quoted market prices and are classified as Level 1 assets. For OTC-bilateral derivatives and OTC-cleared derivatives classified as Level 2 assets or liabilities, fair values are determined using the income approach. Valuations of non-option-based derivatives utilize present value techniques, whereas valuations of option-based derivatives utilize option pricing models which are based on market standard valuation methodologies and a variety of observable inputs.

The significant inputs to the pricing models for most OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives are inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Certain OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives may rely on inputs that are significant to the estimated fair value that are not observable in the market or cannot be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. These unobservable inputs may involve significant management judgment or estimation. Even though unobservable, these inputs are based on assumptions deemed appropriate given the circumstances and management believes they are consistent with what other market participants would use when pricing such instruments.

Most inputs for OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives are mid-market inputs but, in certain cases, liquidity adjustments are made when they are deemed more representative of exit value. Market liquidity, as well as the use of different methodologies, assumptions and inputs, may have a material effect on the estimated fair values of the Company’s derivatives and could materially affect net income.

The credit risk of both the counterparty and the Company are considered in determining the estimated fair value for all OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives, and any potential credit adjustment is based on the net exposure by counterparty after taking into account the effects of netting agreements and collateral arrangements. The Company values its OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives using standard swap curves which may include a spread to the risk-free rate, depending upon specific collateral arrangements. This credit spread is appropriate for those parties that execute trades at pricing levels consistent with similar collateral arrangements. As the Company and its significant derivative counterparties generally execute trades at such pricing levels and hold sufficient collateral, additional credit risk adjustments are not currently required in the valuation process. The Company’s ability to consistently execute at such pricing levels is in part due to the netting agreements and collateral arrangements that are in place with all of its significant derivative counterparties. An evaluation of the requirement to make additional credit risk adjustments is performed by the Company each reporting period.

Embedded Derivatives

Embedded derivatives principally include certain direct, assumed and ceded variable annuity guarantees, equity or bond indexed crediting rates within certain annuity contracts, and those related to funds withheld on ceded reinsurance agreements. Embedded derivatives are recorded at estimated fair value with changes in estimated fair value reported in net income.

The Company issues certain variable annuity products with guaranteed minimum benefits. GMWBs, GMABs and certain GMIBs contain embedded derivatives, which are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host variable annuity contract, with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). These embedded derivatives are classified within policyholder account balances on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s actuarial department calculates the fair value of these embedded derivatives, which are estimated as the present value of projected future benefits minus the present value of projected future fees using actuarial and capital market assumptions including expectations concerning policyholder behavior. The calculation is based on in-force business, and is performed using standard actuarial valuation software which projects future cash flows from the embedded derivative over multiple risk neutral stochastic scenarios using observable risk-free rates.

Capital market assumptions, such as risk-free rates and implied volatilities, are based on market prices for publicly traded instruments to the extent that prices for such instruments are observable. Implied volatilities beyond the observable period are extrapolated based on observable implied volatilities and historical volatilities. Actuarial assumptions, including mortality, lapse, withdrawal and utilization, are unobservable and are reviewed at least annually based on actuarial studies of historical experience.

The valuation of these guarantee liabilities includes nonperformance risk adjustments and adjustments for a risk margin related to non-capital market inputs. The nonperformance adjustment is determined by taking into consideration publicly available information relating to spreads in the secondary market for Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s debt. These observable spreads are then adjusted to reflect the priority of these liabilities and claims paying ability of the issuing insurance subsidiaries as compared to Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s overall financial strength.

Risk margins are established to capture the non-capital market risks of the instrument which represent the additional compensation a market participant would require to assume the risks related to the uncertainties of such actuarial assumptions as annuitization, premium persistency, partial withdrawal and surrenders. The establishment of risk margins requires the use of significant management judgment, including assumptions of the amount and cost of capital needed to cover the guarantees. These guarantees may be more costly than expected in volatile or declining equity markets. Market conditions including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, equity indices, market volatility and foreign currency exchange rates; changes in nonperformance risk; and variations in actuarial assumptions regarding policyholder behavior, mortality and risk margins related to non-capital market inputs, may result in significant fluctuations in the estimated fair value of the guarantees that could materially affect net income.

The Company recaptured from a former affiliate the risk associated with certain GMIBs. These embedded derivatives are included in policyholder account balances on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). The value of the embedded derivatives on these recaptured risks is determined using a methodology consistent with that described previously for the guarantees directly written by the Company.

The Company ceded to a former affiliate the risk associated with certain of the GMIBs, GMABs and GMWBs described above that are also accounted for as embedded derivatives. In addition to ceding risks associated with guarantees that are accounted for as embedded derivatives, the Company also cedes, to a former affiliate, certain directly written GMIBs that are accounted for as insurance (i.e., not as embedded derivatives), but where the reinsurance agreement contains an embedded derivative. These embedded derivatives are included within premiums, reinsurance and other receivables on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). The value of the embedded derivatives on the ceded risk is determined using a methodology consistent with that described previously for the guarantees directly written by the Company with the exception of the input for nonperformance risk that reflects the credit of the reinsurer.

The estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives within funds withheld related to certain ceded reinsurance is determined based on the change in estimated fair value of the underlying assets held by the Company in a reference portfolio backing the funds withheld liability. The estimated fair value of the underlying assets is determined as previously described in “— Investments — Securities, Short-term Investments and Long-term Debt of CSEs — FVO.” The estimated fair value of these embedded derivatives is included, along with their funds withheld hosts, in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in estimated fair value recorded in net derivative gains (losses). Changes in the credit spreads on the underlying assets, interest rates and market volatility may result in significant fluctuations in the estimated fair value of these embedded derivatives that could materially affect net income.

The Company issues certain annuity contracts which allow the policyholder to participate in returns from equity indices. These equity indexed features are embedded derivatives which are measured at estimated fair value separately from the host fixed annuity contract, with changes in estimated fair value reported in net derivative gains (losses). These embedded derivatives are classified within policyholder account balances on the consolidated balance sheets.

The estimated fair value of the embedded equity indexed derivatives, based on the present value of future equity returns to the policyholder using actuarial and present value assumptions including expectations concerning policyholder behavior, is calculated by the Company’s actuarial department. The calculation is based on in-force business and uses standard capital market techniques, such as Black-Scholes, to calculate the value of the portion of the embedded derivative for which the terms are set. The portion of the embedded derivative covering the period beyond where terms are set is calculated as the present value of amounts expected to be spent to provide equity indexed returns in those periods. The valuation of these embedded derivatives also includes the establishment of a risk margin, as well as changes in nonperformance risk.

Transfers between Levels

Overall, transfers between levels occur when there are changes in the observability of inputs and market activity. Transfers into or out of any level are assumed to occur at the beginning of the period.

Transfers between Levels 1 and 2:

For assets and liabilities measured at estimated fair value and still held at December 31, 2017 and 2016, transfers between Levels 1 and 2 were not significant.

Transfers into or out of Level 3:

Assets and liabilities are transferred into Level 3 when a significant input cannot be corroborated with market observable data. This occurs when market activity decreases significantly and underlying inputs cannot be observed, current prices are not available, and/or when there are significant variances in quoted prices, thereby affecting transparency. Assets and liabilities are transferred out of Level 3 when circumstances change such that a significant input can be corroborated with market observable data. This may be due to a significant increase in market activity, a specific event, or one or more significant input(s) becoming observable.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

The following table presents certain quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement, and the sensitivity of the estimated fair value to changes in those inputs, for the more significant asset and liability classes measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at:



					December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016				Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
	Valuation Techniques		Significant Unobservable Inputs		Range			Weighted Average (1)	Range			Weighted Average (1)	Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
Fixed maturity securities (3)
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate	•	Matrix pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	93	-	142	110	18	-	138	104	Increase
	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	—	-	443	76	13	-	700	99	Increase
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)					37	-	109	85	Increase
RMBS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	3	-	107	94	38	-	111	91	Increase (5)
ABS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	100	-	104	101	94	-	106	100	Increase (5)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	100	-	100	100	98	-	100	99	Increase (5)
Derivatives
Interest rate	•	Present value techniques	•	Repurchase rates (7)	—	-	—		(44)		18		Decrease (6)
Credit	•	Present value techniques	•	Credit spreads (8)	—	-	—		97	-	98		Decrease (6)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (9)
Equity market	•	Present value techniques or option pricing models	•	Volatility (10)	11%	-	31%		14%	-	32%		Increase (6)
			•	Correlation (11)	10%	-	30%		40%	-	40%
Embedded derivatives
Direct, assumed and ceded guaranteed minimum benefits	•	Option pricing techniques	•	Mortality rates:
				Ages 0 - 40	0%	-	0.09%		0%	-	0.09%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 41 - 60	0.04%	-	0.65%		0.04%	-	0.65%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 61 - 115	0.26%	-	100%		0.26%	-	100%		Decrease (12)
			•	Lapse rates:
				Durations 1 - 10	0.25%	-	100%		0.25%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 11 - 20	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 21 - 116	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
			•	Utilization rates	0%	-	25%		0%	-	25%		Increase (14)
			•	Withdrawal rates	0.25%	-	10%		0.25%	-	10%		(15)
			•	Long-term equity volatilities	17.40%	-	25%		17.40%	-	25%		Increase (16)
			•	Nonperformance risk spread	0.64%	-	1.43%		0.04%	-	0.57%		Decrease (17)

______________


(1)	The weighted average for fixed maturity securities is determined based on the estimated fair value of the securities.


(2)	The impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact on estimated fair value. For embedded derivatives, changes to direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits are based on liability positions; changes to ceded guaranteed minimum benefits are based on asset positions.


(3)	Significant increases (decreases) in expected default rates in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations.


(4)	Range and weighted average are presented in accordance with the market convention for fixed maturity securities of dollars per hundred dollars of par.


(5)	Changes in the assumptions used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumptions used for prepayment rates.


(6)	Changes in estimated fair value are based on long U.S. dollar net asset positions and will be inversely impacted for short U.S. dollar net asset positions.


(7)	Ranges represent different repurchase rates utilized as components within the valuation methodology and are presented in basis points.


(8)	Represents the risk quoted in basis points of a credit default event on the underlying instrument. Credit derivatives with significant unobservable inputs are primarily comprised of written credit default swaps.


(9)	At December 31, 2017 and 2016, independent non-binding broker quotations were used in the determination of 1% and 3% of the total net derivative estimated fair value, respectively.


(10)	Ranges represent the underlying equity volatility quoted in percentage points. Since this valuation methodology uses a range of inputs across multiple volatility surfaces to value the derivative, presenting a range is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation.


(11)	Ranges represent the different correlation factors utilized as components within the valuation methodology. Presenting a range of correlation factors is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation. Increases (decreases) in correlation in isolation will increase (decrease) the significance of the change in valuations.


(12)	Mortality rates vary by age and by demographic characteristics such as gender. Mortality rate assumptions are based on company experience. A mortality improvement assumption is also applied. For any given contract, mortality rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

(13)

Base lapse rates are adjusted at the contract level based on a comparison of the actuarially calculated guaranteed values and the current policyholder account value, as well as other factors, such as the applicability of any surrender charges. A dynamic lapse function reduces the base lapse rate when the guaranteed amount is greater than the account value as in the money contracts are less likely to lapse. Lapse rates are also generally assumed to be lower in periods when a surrender charge applies. For any given contract, lapse rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

(14)

The utilization rate assumption estimates the percentage of contract holders with a GMIB or lifetime withdrawal benefit who will elect to utilize the benefit upon becoming eligible. The rates may vary by the type of guarantee, the amount by which the guaranteed amount is greater than the account value, the contract’s withdrawal history and by the age of the policyholder. For any given contract, utilization rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

(15)

The withdrawal rate represents the percentage of account balance that any given policyholder will elect to withdraw from the contract each year. The withdrawal rate assumption varies by age and duration of the contract, and also by other factors such as benefit type. For any given contract, withdrawal rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative. For GMWBs, any increase (decrease) in withdrawal rates results in an increase (decrease) in the estimated fair value of the guarantees. For GMABs and GMIBs, any increase (decrease) in withdrawal rates results in a decrease (increase) in the estimated fair value.


(16)	Long-term equity volatilities represent equity volatility beyond the period for which observable equity volatilities are available. For any given contract, long-term equity volatility rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.


(17)	Nonperformance risk spread varies by duration and by currency. For any given contract, multiple nonperformance risk spreads will apply, depending on the duration of the cash flow being discounted for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

The following is a summary of the valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities classified within Level 3 that are not included in the preceding table. Generally, all other classes of securities classified within Level 3, including those within separate account assets and embedded derivatives within funds withheld related to certain assumed reinsurance, use the same valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs as previously described for Level 3 securities. This includes matrix pricing and discounted cash flow methodologies, inputs such as quoted prices for identical or similar securities that are less liquid and based on lower levels of trading activity than securities classified in Level 2, as well as independent non-binding broker quotations. The sensitivity of the estimated fair value to changes in the significant unobservable inputs for these other assets and liabilities is similar in nature to that described in the preceding table.

The following tables summarize the change of all assets and (liabilities) measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):



	Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Fixed Maturity Securities
	Corporate (1)			Structured Securities			State and Political Subdivision			Foreign Government			Equity Securities			Short Term Investments			Net Derivatives (2)			Net Embedded Derivatives (3)			Separate Account Assets (4)
	(In millions)
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	2,410		$	1,996		$	13		$	27		$	97		$	47		$	(232	)	$	(442	)	$	146
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	(11		)	30			—			—			—			—			(703		)	(1,760		)	—
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	(24		)	21			—			—			(11		)	—			4			—			—
Purchases (7)	584			600			—			—			—			3			10			—			2
Sales (7)	(443		)	(598		)	—			—			(26		)	(1		)	—			—			(134		)
Issuances (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			(33		)	(559		)	—
Transfers into Level 3 (8)	119			12			9			—			131			—			—			—			—
Transfers out of Level 3 (8)	(325		)	(366		)	(5		)	(27		)	(54		)	(47		)	—			—			(4		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	2,310		$	1,695		$	17		$	—		$	137		$	2		$	(954	)	$	(2,761	)	$	10
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	(3		)	28			—			—			(3		)	—			92			1,233			—
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	127			52			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Purchases (7)	442			106			—			5			3			14			4			—			2
Sales (7)	(222		)	(526		)	—			—			(13		)	(1		)	—			—			(4		)
Issuances (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			579			(479		)	(1		)
Transfers into Level 3 (8)	178			11			—			—			—			—			—			—			2
Transfers out of Level 3 (8)	(895		)	(144		)	(17		)	—			—			(1		)	—			—			(4		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	1,937		$	1,222		$	—		$	5		$	124		$	14		$	(279	)	$	(2,007	)	$	5
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2015 (9)	$	11		$	21		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(64	)	$	(310	)	$	—
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2016 (9)	$	2		$	28		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(687	)	$	(1,772	)	$	—
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2017 (9)	$	1		$	23		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(52	)	$	1,300		$	—
Gains (Losses) Data for the year ended December 31, 2015
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	$	16		$	21		$	—		$	—		$	11		$	—		$	(74	)	$	(303	)	$	(6	)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	$	(120	)	$	(14	)	$	—		$	(2	)	$	(10	)	$	—		$	2		$	—		$	—

____________


(1)	Comprised of U.S. and foreign corporate securities.


(2)	Freestanding derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.


(3)	Embedded derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.


(4)	Investment performance related to separate account assets is fully offset by corresponding amounts credited to contract holders within separate account liabilities. Therefore, such changes in estimated fair value are not recorded in net income (loss). For the purpose of this disclosure, these changes are presented within net investment gains (losses).

(5)

Amortization of premium/accretion of discount is included within net investment income. Impairments charged to net income (loss) on securities are included in net investment gains (losses). Lapses associated with net embedded derivatives are included in net derivative gains (losses). Substantially all realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for net derivatives and net embedded derivatives are reported in net derivatives gains (losses).


(6)	Interest and dividend accruals, as well as cash interest coupons and dividends received, are excluded from the rollforward.


(7)	Items purchased/issued and then sold/settled in the same period are excluded from the rollforward. Fees attributed to embedded derivatives are included in settlements.


(8)	Gains and losses, in net income (loss) and OCI, are calculated assuming transfers into and/or out of Level 3 occurred at the beginning of the period. Items transferred into and then out of Level 3 in the same period are excluded from the rollforward.


(9)	Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) relate to assets and liabilities still held at the end of the respective periods. Substantially all changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for net derivatives and net embedded derivatives are reported in net derivative gains (losses).

Fair Value Option

The following table presents information for certain assets and liabilities of CSEs, which are accounted for under the FVO. These assets and liabilities were initially measured at fair value.



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Assets (1)
Unpaid principal balance	$	70	$	88
Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance	45		48
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$	115	$	136
Liabilities (1)
Contractual principal balance	$	10	$	22
Difference between estimated fair value and contractual principal balance	1		1
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$	11	$	23

______________

(1)

These assets and liabilities are comprised of commercial mortgage loans and long-term debt. Changes in estimated fair value on these assets and liabilities and gains or losses on sales of these assets are recognized in net investment gains (losses). Interest income on commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO is recognized in net investment income. Interest expense from long-term debt of CSEs — FVO is recognized in other expenses.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Carried at Other Than Fair Value

The following tables provide fair value information for financial instruments that are carried on the balance sheet at amounts other than fair value. These tables exclude the following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, accrued investment income, payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions and those short-term investments that are not securities, such as time deposits, and therefore are not included in the three level hierarchy table disclosed in the “— Recurring Fair Value Measurements” section. The estimated fair value of the excluded financial instruments, which are primarily classified in Level 2, approximates carrying value as they are short-term in nature such that the Company believes there is minimal risk of material changes in interest rates or credit quality. All remaining balance sheet amounts excluded from the tables below are not considered financial instruments subject to this disclosure.

The carrying values and estimated fair values for such financial instruments, and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy, are summarized as follows at:



	December 31, 2017
			Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Mortgage loans	$	10,525	$	—	$	—	$	10,768	$	10,768
Policy loans	$	1,106	$	—	$	746	$	439	$	1,185
Real estate joint ventures	$	5	$	—	$	—	$	22	$	22
Other limited partnership interests	$	36	$	—	$	—	$	28	$	28
Loans to MetLife, Inc.	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	1,556	$	—	$	126	$	1,783	$	1,909
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	15,626	$	—	$	—	$	15,760	$	15,760
Long-term debt	$	35	$	—	$	42	$	—	$	42
Other liabilities	$	459	$	—	$	93	$	368	$	461
Separate account liabilities	$	1,206	$	—	$	1,206	$	—	$	1,206



	December 31, 2016
			Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Mortgage loans	$	9,154	$	—	$	—	$	9,298	$	9,298
Policy loans	$	1,093	$	—	$	746	$	431	$	1,177
Real estate joint ventures	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	44
Other limited partnership interests	$	44	$	—	$	—	$	42	$	42
Loans to MetLife, Inc.	$	1,100	$	—	$	1,090	$	—	$	1,090
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	2,363	$	—	$	834	$	1,981	$	2,815
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	16,043	$	—	$	—	$	17,259	$	17,259
Long-term debt	$	1,881	$	—	$	2,117	$	—	$	2,117
Other liabilities	$	256	$	—	$	90	$	166	$	256
Separate account liabilities	$	1,110	$	—	$	1,110	$	—	$	1,110

The methods, assumptions and significant valuation techniques and inputs used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments are summarized as follows:

Mortgage Loans

The estimated fair value of mortgage loans is primarily determined by estimating expected future cash flows and discounting them using current interest rates for similar mortgage loans with similar credit risk, or is determined from pricing for similar loans.

Policy Loans

Policy loans with fixed interest rates are classified within Level 3. The estimated fair values for these loans are determined using a discounted cash flow model applied to groups of similar policy loans determined by the nature of the underlying insurance liabilities. Cash flow estimates are developed by applying a weighted-average interest rate to the outstanding principal balance of the respective group of policy loans and an estimated average maturity determined through experience studies of the past performance of policyholder repayment behavior for similar loans. These cash flows are discounted using current risk-free interest rates with no adjustment for borrower credit risk, as these loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the underlying insurance policy. Policy loans with variable interest rates are classified within Level 2 and the estimated fair value approximates carrying value due to the absence of borrower credit risk and the short time period between interest rate resets, which presents minimal risk of a material change in estimated fair value due to changes in market interest rates.

Real Estate Joint Ventures and Other Limited Partnership Interests

The estimated fair values of these cost method investments are generally based on the Company’s share of the NAV as provided on the financial statements of the investees. In certain circumstances, management may adjust the NAV by a premium or discount when it has sufficient evidence to support applying such adjustments.

Loans to MetLife, Inc.

The estimated fair value of loans to MetLife, Inc. is principally determined using market standard valuation methodologies. Valuations of instruments are based primarily on discounted cash flow methodologies that use standard market observable inputs including market yield curve, duration, observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues.

Premiums, Reinsurance and Other Receivables

Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables are principally comprised of certain amounts recoverable under reinsurance agreements, amounts on deposit with financial institutions to facilitate daily settlements related to certain derivatives and amounts receivable for securities sold but not yet settled.

Amounts recoverable under ceded reinsurance agreements, which the Company has determined do not transfer significant risk such that they are accounted for using the deposit method of accounting, have been classified as Level 3. The valuation is based on discounted cash flow methodologies using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value is determined using interest rates determined to reflect the appropriate credit standing of the assuming counterparty.

The amounts on deposit for derivative settlements, classified within Level 2, essentially represent the equivalent of demand deposit balances and amounts due for securities sold are generally received over short periods such that the estimated fair value approximates carrying value.

Policyholder Account Balances

These policyholder account balances include investment contracts which primarily include certain funding agreements, fixed deferred annuities, modified guaranteed annuities, fixed term payout annuities and total control accounts. The valuation of these investment contracts is based on discounted cash flow methodologies using significant unobservable inputs. The estimated fair value is determined using current market risk-free interest rates adding a spread to reflect the nonperformance risk in the liability.

Long-term Debt

The estimated fair value of long-term debt is principally determined using market standard valuation methodologies. Valuations of instruments are based primarily on quoted prices in markets that are not active or using matrix pricing that use standard market observable inputs such as quoted prices in markets that are not active and observable yields and spreads in the market. Instruments valued using discounted cash flow methodologies use standard market observable inputs including market yield curve, duration, observable prices and spreads for similar publicly traded or privately traded issues.

Other Liabilities

Other liabilities consist primarily of interest payable, amounts due for securities purchased but not yet settled and funds withheld amounts payable, which are contractually withheld by the Company in accordance with the terms of the reinsurance agreements, deposits payable and derivatives payable. The Company evaluates the specific terms, facts and circumstances of each instrument to determine the appropriate estimated fair values, which are not materially different from the carrying values.

Separate Account Liabilities

Separate account liabilities represent those balances due to policyholders under contracts that are classified as investment contracts.

Separate account liabilities classified as investment contracts primarily represent variable annuities with no significant mortality risk to the Company such that the death benefit is equal to the account balance and certain contracts that provide for benefit funding.

Since separate account liabilities are fully funded by cash flows from the separate account assets which are recognized at estimated fair value as described in the section “— Recurring Fair Value Measurements,” the value of those assets approximates the estimated fair value of the related separate account liabilities. The valuation techniques and inputs for separate account liabilities are similar to those described for separate account assets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

Long-term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Debt Disclosure

10. Long-term Debt

Long-term debt outstanding was as follows:



	Interest Rate	Maturity	December 31,
	Interest Rate	Maturity	2017		2016
			(In millions)
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc. (1)	8.595%	2038	$	—	$	744
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc.	5.130%	2032	—		750
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc.	6.000%	2033	—		350
Long-term debt — unaffiliated (2)	7.028%	2030	35		37
Total long-term debt (3)			$	35	$	1,881

______________


(1)	Includes $6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs at December 31, 2016.


(2)	Represents non-recourse debt for which creditors have no access, subject to customary exceptions, to the general assets of the Company other than recourse to certain investment companies.


(3)	Excludes $11 million and $23 million of long-term debt related to CSEs at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 7 for more information regarding CSEs.

The aggregate maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2017 were $2 million in each of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and $26 million thereafter.

Interest expense related to long-term debt of $58 million, $128 million and $128 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is included in other expenses.

Surplus Notes

On June 16, 2017, MetLife, Inc. forgave Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s obligation to pay the principal amount of $750 million, 8.595% surplus notes held by MetLife, Inc., which were originally issued in 2008. The forgiveness of the surplus notes was treated as a capital transaction and recorded as an increase to additional paid-in-capital.

On April 28, 2017, two surplus note obligations due to MetLife, Inc. totaling $1.1 billion, which were originally issued in 2012 and 2013, were due on September 30, 2032 and December 31, 2033 and bore interest at 5.13% and 6.00%, respectively, were satisfied in a non-cash exchange for $1.1 billion of loans due from MetLife, Inc.

Committed Facilities and Reinsurance Financing Arrangement

The Company previously had access to an unsecured revolving credit facility and certain committed facilities through the Company’s former parent, MetLife, Inc. These facilities were used for collateral for certain of the Company’s affiliated reinsurance liabilities.

In connection with the affiliated reinsurance company restructuring, effective April 28, 2017, MetLife, Inc.’s then existing affiliated reinsurance subsidiaries that supported the business interests of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. became a part of Brighthouse Financial, Inc. Simultaneously with the affiliated reinsurance company restructuring, the existing reserve financing arrangements of the affected reinsurance subsidiaries, as well as Brighthouse Financial, Inc.’s access to MetLife Inc.’s revolving credit facility and certain committed facilities, including outstanding letters of credit, were terminated and replaced with a single reinsurance financing arrangement, which is discussed in more detail below. The terminated committed facilities included a $3.5 billion committed facility for the benefit of MRSC and a $4.3 billion committed facility for the benefit of a designated protected cell of MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont (“MRV Cell”).

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized fees of $19 million, $55 million and $61 million, respectively, in other expenses associated with these committed facilities.

On April 28, 2017, BRCD entered into a new $10.0 billion financing arrangement with a pool of highly rated third-party reinsurers. This financing arrangement consists of credit-linked notes that each have a term of 20 years. At December 31, 2017, there were no drawdowns on this facility and there was $8.3 billion of funding available under this arrangement. Fees associated with this financing arrangement were not significant.

Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

11. Equity

Capital Transactions

During the first quarter of 2017, the Company sold an operating joint venture to a former affiliate and the resulting $202 million gain was treated as a cash capital contribution. See Note 7.

In April 2017, in connection with the Contribution Transactions, the Company recognized a $2.7 billion return of capital to MetLife, Inc. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the Contribution Transactions. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized non-cash returns of capital to MetLife, Inc. of $26 million and $50 million, respectively.

During the second quarter of 2017, MetLife, Inc. forgave Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s obligation to pay the principal amount of $750 million of surplus notes held by MetLife, Inc. The forgiveness of these notes was a non-cash capital contribution. See Note 10 for additional information regarding the surplus notes.

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company recognized a $1.1 billion non-cash tax charge and corresponding capital contribution from MetLife, Inc. This tax obligation was triggered prior to the Separation and MetLife, Inc. is responsible for this obligation through a Tax Separation Agreement. See Note 13 for additional information regarding the tax charge.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company received cash capital contributions totaling $1.3 billion from Brighthouse Holdings, LLC.

During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company received cash capital contributions of $1.6 billion and $21 million, respectively and recognized non-cash capital contributions of $69 million and $181 million, respectively, from MetLife, Inc.

In December 2015 and 2014, the Company accrued capital contributions from MetLife, Inc. of $120 million and $385 million, respectively, in premiums, reinsurance and other receivables and additional paid-in capital, which were settled for cash in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Statutory Equity and Income

The states of domicile of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and BHNY impose risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company’s total adjusted capital, calculated in the manner prescribed by the NAIC (“TAC”) to its authorized control level RBC, calculated in the manner prescribed by the NAIC (“ACL RBC”), based on the statutory-based filed financial statements. Companies below specific trigger levels or ratios are classified by their respective levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The minimum level of TAC before corrective action commences is twice ACL RBC. The RBC ratios for Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and BHNY were each in excess of 400% for all periods presented.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and BHNY prepare statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of the state of domicile.

Statutory accounting principles differ from GAAP primarily by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions, reporting of reinsurance agreements and valuing investments and deferred tax assets on a different basis. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and BHNY have no material state prescribed accounting practices.

The tables below present amounts from Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and BHNY, which are derived from the statutory-basis financial statements as filed with the insurance regulators.

Statutory net income (loss) was as follows:



		Years Ended December 31,
Company	State of Domicile	2017			2016			2015
		(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	Delaware	$	(425	)	$	1,186		$	(1,022	)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	New York	$	22		$	(87	)	$	17

Statutory capital and surplus was as follows at:



	December 31,
Company	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	$	5,594	$	4,374
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	$	294	$	196

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company has a reinsurance subsidiary, BRCD that was formed in 2017 as the result of the merger of certain other affiliated captive reinsurance subsidiaries. BRCD reinsures risks including level premium term life and ULSG assumed from other Brighthouse Life Insurance Company subsidiaries. BRCD, with the explicit permission of the Delaware Commissioner, has included, as admitted assets, the value of credit-linked notes, serving as collateral, which resulted in higher statutory capital and surplus of $8.3 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017. BRCD’s RBC would have triggered a regulatory event without the use of the state prescribed practice.

Prior to the formation of BRCD and related merger, the legacy MetLife captive reinsurance subsidiaries included in the statutory merger and formation of BRCD had certain state prescribed accounting practices. A protected designated cell of MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont’s (“MRV Cell”), with the explicit permission of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Vermont, included, as admitted assets, the value of letters of credit serving as collateral for reinsurance credit taken by various affiliated cedants, in connection with reinsurance agreements entered into between MRV Cell and the various affiliated cedants, which resulted in higher statutory capital and surplus of $3.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2016. MRV Cell’s RBC would have triggered a regulatory event without the use of the state prescribed practice. MetLife Reinsurance Company of Delaware (“MRD”), with the explicit permission of the Delaware Commissioner, previously included, as admitted assets, the value of letters of credit issued to MRD, serving as collateral, which resulted in higher statutory capital and surplus of $260 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. MRD’s RBC would not have triggered a regulatory event without the use of the state prescribed practice.

The statutory net income (loss) of the Company’s affiliate reinsurance companies was ($1.6) billion, ($363) million and ($372) million for the years ended December 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and the combined statutory capital and surplus, including the aforementioned prescribed practices, were $972 million and $2.6 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Dividend Restrictions

The table below sets forth the dividends permitted to be paid by the Company’s insurance companies without insurance regulatory approval and dividends paid:



	2018		2017		2016
Company	Permitted Without Approval (1)		Paid (2)		Paid (2)
	(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	$	84	$	—	$	261
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	$	21	$	—	$	—

______________


(1)	Reflects dividend amounts that may be paid during 2018 without prior regulatory approval. However, because dividend tests may be based on dividends previously paid over rolling 12-month periods, if paid before a specified date during 2018, some or all of such dividends may require regulatory approval.


(2)	Reflects all amounts paid, including those requiring regulatory approval.

Under the Delaware Insurance Code, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend as long as the amount of the dividend when aggregated with all other dividends in the preceding 12 months does not exceed the greater of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year; or (ii) its net statutory gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains), not including pro rata distributions of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company’s own securities. Brighthouse Life Insurance Company will be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend in excess of the greater of such two amounts only if it files notice of the declaration of such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Delaware Commissioner and the Delaware Commissioner either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the distribution within 30 days of its filing. In addition, any dividend that exceeds earned surplus (defined as “unassigned funds (surplus)”) as of the immediately preceding calendar year requires insurance regulatory approval. Under the Delaware Insurance Code, the Delaware Commissioner has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.

Under the New York Insurance Law, BHNY may not pay stockholder dividends without prior approval of the New York Superintendent of Financial Services.

Under BRCD’s plan of operations, no dividend or distribution may be made by BRCD without the prior approval of the Delaware Commissioner. During the year ended December 31, 2017, BRCD paid an extraordinary cash dividend of $535 million to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Information regarding changes in the balances of each component of AOCI was as follows:



	Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets (1)			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Total
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	2,445		$	183		$	(6	)	$	2,622
OCI before reclassifications	(1,759		)	95			(29		)	(1,693		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	643			(33		)	9			619
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,329			245			(26		)	1,548
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	78			(6		)	—			72
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(28		)	2			—			(26		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	50			(4		)	—			46
Balance at December 31, 2015	1,379			241			(26		)	1,594
OCI before reclassifications	(565		)	70			(3		)	(498		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	185			(25		)	—			160
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	999			286			(29		)	1,256
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	30			(43		)	—			(13		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(10		)	15			—			5
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	20			(28		)	—			(8		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,019			258			(29		)	1,248
OCI before reclassifications	529			(152		)	9			386
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(206		)	54			(3		)	(155		)
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,342			160			(23		)	1,479
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	61			(14		)	—			47
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	306			5			—			311
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	367			(9		)	—			358
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,709		$	151		$	(23	)	$	1,837

__________________


(1)	See Note 7 for information on offsets to investments related to future policy benefits, DAC, VOBA and DSI.


(2)	Includes the $330 million impact of the Tax Act related to unrealized investments gains (losses), net of related offsets. See Note 1 for more information.

Information regarding amounts reclassified out of each component of AOCI was as follows:



AOCI Components	Amounts Reclassified from AOCI									Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Locations
	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Net unrealized investment gains(losses)	$	(15	)	$	(39	)	$	(81	)	Net investment gains (losses)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	1			3			13			Net investment income
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	(47		)	6			(10		)	Net derivative gains (losses)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), before income tax	(61		)	(30		)	(78		)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(306		)	10			28
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of income tax	$	(367	)	$	(20	)	$	(50	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives - cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	—		$	33		$	1		Net derivative gains (losses)
Interest rate swaps	3			3			1			Net investment income
Interest rate forwards	—			2			2			Net derivative gains (losses)
Interest rate forwards	3			2			2			Net investment income
Foreign currency swaps	8			3			—			Net derivative gains (losses)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, before income tax	14			43			6
Income tax (expense) benefit	(5		)	(15		)	(2		)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of income tax	$	9		$	28		$	4
Total reclassifications, net of income tax	$	(358	)	$	8		$	(46	)

Other Expenses

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Expenses

12. Other Expenses

Information on other expenses was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Compensation	$	263		$	356		$	487
Commissions	741			641			722
Volume-related costs	175			279			231
Related party expenses on ceded and assumed reinsurance	—			22			17
Capitalization of DAC	(256		)	(330		)	(399		)
Interest expense on debt	56			130			137
Goodwill impairment (1)	—			381			—
Premium taxes, licenses and fees	58			59			71
Professional services	239			85			22
Rent and related expenses	12			46			54
Other	545			412			381
Total other expenses	$	1,833		$	2,081		$	1,723

__________________


(1)	Based on a quantitative analysis performed for the Run-off reporting unit, it was determined that the goodwill associated with this reporting unit was not recoverable and resulted in the impairment of the entire goodwill balance.

Capitalization of DAC

See Note 5 for additional information on the capitalization of DAC.

Interest Expense on Debt

See Note 10 for attribution of interest expense by debt issuance. Interest expense on debt includes interest expense related to CSEs.

Related Party Expenses

See Note 15 for a discussion of related party expenses included in the table above.

Income Tax

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax

13. Income Tax

The provision for income tax was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Current:
Federal	$	368		$	(374	)	$	35
Foreign	18			4			—
Subtotal	386			(370		)	35
Deferred:
Federal	(1,124		)	(1,320		)	212
Foreign	—			—			—
Subtotal	(1,124		)	(1,320		)	212
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	(738	)	$	(1,690	)	$	247

The reconciliation of the income tax provision at the U.S. statutory rate to the provision for income tax as reported was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate	$	(567	)	$	(1,563	)	$	408
Tax effect of:
Dividend received deduction	(116		)	(110		)	(132		)
Excess loss account - Separation from MetLife (1)	1,088			—			—
Rate revaluation due to tax reform (2)	(696		)	—			—
Prior year tax	(4		)	24			(5		)
Tax credits	(29		)	(22		)	(16		)
Foreign tax rate differential	—			2			(5		)
Goodwill impairment	(288		)	(20		)	—
Sale of subsidiary	(136		)	(6		)	—
Other, net	10			5			(3		)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	(738	)	$	(1,690	)	$	247

__________________

(1) For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a $1.1 billion non-cash charge to provision for income tax expense and corresponding capital contribution from MetLife. This tax obligation was in connection with the Separation and MetLife is responsible for this obligation through a Tax Separation Agreement.

(2) For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recognized a $696 million benefit in net income from remeasurement of net deferred tax liabilities in connection with the Tax Act discussed in Note 1. As the Company completes the analysis of data relevant to the Tax Act, as well as interprets any additional guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), U.S. Department of the Treasury, or other relevant organizations, it may make adjustments to these amounts.

Deferred income tax represents the tax effect of the differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Net deferred income tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following at:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Deferred income tax assets:
Investments, including derivatives	$	313		$	357
Net operating loss carryfowards	416			—
Tax credit carryforwards	191			184
Intangibles	227			—
Other	74			55
Total deferred income tax assets	1,221			596
Less: valuation allowance	11			—
Total net deferred income tax assets	1,210			596
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Policyholder liabilities and receivables	853			536
Intangibles	—			293
Net unrealized investment gains	494			653
DAC	757			1,565
Total deferred income tax liabilities	2,104			3,047
Net deferred income tax asset (liability)	$	(894	)	$	(2,451	)

At December 31, 2017, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $2.0 billion and the Company had recorded a related deferred tax asset of $416 million which expires in years 2033-2037.

The following table sets forth the general business credits, foreign tax credits, and other credit carryforwards for tax purposes at December 31, 2017.



	Tax Credit Carryforwards
	General Business Credits		Foreign Tax Credits		Other
	(In millions)
Expiration
2018-2022	$	—	$	—	$	—
2023-2027	—		14		—
2028-2032	—		—		—
2033-2037	2		—		—
Indefinite	—		—		175
	$	2	$	14	$	175

The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease in the next 12 months. A reasonable estimate of the increase or decrease cannot be made at this time. However, the Company continues to believe that the ultimate resolution of the pending issues will not result in a material change to its consolidated financial statements, although the resolution of income tax matters could impact the Company’s effective tax rate for a particular future period.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	38		$	43		$	39
Additions for tax positions of prior years	—			1			5
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(4		)	(9		)	—
Additions for tax positions of current year	3			5			3
Reductions for tax positions of current year	(2		)	—			—
Settlements with tax authorities	(13		)	(2		)	(4		)
Balance at December 31,	$	22		$	38		$	43
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized would impact the effective rate	$	22		$	38		$	33

The Company classifies interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense, included within other expenses, while penalties are included in income tax expense. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits was not significant. The Company had no penalties for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The dividend received deduction reduces the amount of dividend income subject to tax and is a significant component of the difference between the actual tax expense and expected amount determined using the federal statutory tax rate. The Tax Act has changed the dividend received deduction amount applicable to insurance companies to a 70% company share and a 50% dividend received deduction for eligible dividends.

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $123 million, $88 million and $143 million, respectively, related to the separate account dividend received deduction. The 2017 benefit included a benefit of $6 million related to a true-up of the 2016 tax return. The 2016 benefit included an expense of $22 million related to a true-up of the 2015 tax return. The 2015 benefit included a benefit of $13 million related to a true-up of the 2014 tax return.

The Company is under continuous examination by the IRS and other tax authorities in jurisdictions in which the Company has significant business operations. The income tax years under examination vary by jurisdiction. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, or local income tax examinations for years prior to 2007, except for 2006 where the IRS disallowance relates to policyholder liability deductions and the Company is engaged with IRS appeals. Management believes it has established adequate tax liabilities and final resolution of the audit for the years 2006 and forward is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

Tax Sharing Agreements

For the periods prior to the Separation from MetLife, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries will file a consolidated U.S. life and non-life federal income tax return in accordance with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Current taxes (and the benefits of tax attributes such as losses) are allocated to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company, and its includable subsidiaries, under the consolidated tax return regulations and a tax sharing agreement with MetLife. This tax sharing agreement states that federal taxes will be computed on a modified separate return basis with benefits for losses.

For periods after the Separation, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and any directly owned life insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries (including BHNY and BRCD) entered in a tax sharing agreement to join a life consolidated federal income tax return. The nonlife subsidiaries of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company will file their own U.S. federal income tax returns. The tax sharing agreements state that federal taxes are generally allocated to the Company as if each entity were filing its own separate company tax return, except that net operating losses and certain other tax attributes are characterized as realized (or realizable) when those tax attributes are realized (or realizable) by the Company.

Related Party Income Tax Transactions

The Company also entered into a tax separation agreement with MetLife (the “Tax Separation Agreement”). Among other things, the Tax Separation Agreement governs the allocation between MetLife and us of the responsibility for the taxes of the MetLife group. The Tax Separation Agreement also allocates rights, obligations and responsibilities in connection with certain administrative matters relating to the preparation of tax returns and control of tax audits and other proceedings relating to taxes. In October 2017, MetLife paid $723 million to Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and subsidiaries under the Tax Separation Agreement. At December 31, 2017, the current income tax recoverable included $857 million related to this agreement.

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees

14. Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees

Contingencies

Litigation

The Company is a defendant in a number of litigation matters. In some of the matters, large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought. Modern pleading practice in the U.S. permits considerable variation in the assertion of monetary damages or other relief. Jurisdictions may permit claimants not to specify the monetary damages sought or may permit claimants to state only that the amount sought is sufficient to invoke the jurisdiction of the trial court. In addition, jurisdictions may permit plaintiffs to allege monetary damages in amounts well exceeding reasonably possible verdicts in the jurisdiction for similar matters. This variability in pleadings, together with the actual experience of the Company in litigating or resolving through settlement numerous claims over an extended period of time, demonstrates to management that the monetary relief which may be specified in a lawsuit or claim bears little relevance to its merits or disposition value.

Due to the vagaries of litigation, the outcome of a litigation matter and the amount or range of potential loss at particular points in time may normally be difficult to ascertain. Uncertainties can include how fact finders will evaluate documentary evidence and the credibility and effectiveness of witness testimony, and how trial and appellate courts will apply the law in the context of the pleadings or evidence presented, whether by motion practice, or at trial or on appeal. Disposition valuations are also subject to the uncertainty of how opposing parties and their counsel will themselves view the relevant evidence and applicable law.

The Company establishes liabilities for litigation and regulatory loss contingencies when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. It is possible that some matters could require the Company to pay damages or make other expenditures or establish accruals in amounts that could not be estimated at December 31, 2017.

Matters as to Which an Estimate Can Be Made

For some loss contingency matters, the Company is able to estimate a reasonably possible range of loss. For such matters where a loss is believed to be reasonably possible, but not probable, no accrual has been made. As of December 31, 2017, the Company estimates the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts accrued for these matters was not material.

Matters as to Which an Estimate Cannot Be Made

For other matters, the Company is not currently able to estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. The Company is often unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss until developments in such matters have provided sufficient information to support an assessment of the range of possible loss, such as quantification of a damage demand from plaintiffs, discovery from other parties and investigation of factual allegations, rulings by the court on motions or appeals, analysis by experts, and the progress of settlement negotiations. On a quarterly and annual basis, the Company reviews relevant information with respect to litigation contingencies and updates its accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of loss based on such reviews.

Sales Practices Claims

Over the past several years, the Company has faced claims and regulatory inquiries and investigations, alleging improper marketing or sales of individual life insurance policies, annuities, or other products. The Company continues to defend vigorously against the claims in these matters. The Company believes adequate provision has been made in its consolidated financial statements for all probable and reasonably estimable losses for sales practices matters.

Unclaimed Property Litigation

Total Asset Recovery Services, LLC on its own behalf and on behalf of the State of New York v. Brighthouse Financial, Inc. et al (Supreme Court, New York County, NY, second amended complaint filed November 17, 2017). Total Asset Recovery Services, LLC. (the “Relator”) has brought a qui tam action against Brighthouse Financial, Inc., and its subsidiaries and affiliates, under the New York False Claims Act seeking to recover damages on behalf of the State of New York. The action originally was filed under seal on or about December 3, 2010. The State of New York declined to intervene in the action, and the Relator is now prosecuting the action. The Relator alleges that from on or about April 1, 1986 and continuing annually through on or about September 10, 2017, the defendants violated New York State Finance Law Section 189 (1) (g) by failing to timely report and deliver unclaimed insurance property to the State of New York. The Relator is seeking, among other things, treble damages, penalties, expenses and attorneys’ fees and prejudgment interest. No specific dollar amount of damages is specified by the Relator who also is suing numerous insurance companies and John Doe defendants. The Brighthouse defendants intend to defend this action vigorously.

Summary

Various litigation, claims and assessments against the Company, in addition to those discussed previously and those otherwise provided for in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, have arisen in the course of the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, in connection with its activities as an insurer, investor and taxpayer. Further, state insurance regulatory authorities and other federal and state authorities regularly make inquiries and conduct investigations concerning the Company’s compliance with applicable insurance and other laws and regulations.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of all pending investigations and legal proceedings. In some of the matters referred to previously, large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive and treble damages, are sought. Although, in light of these considerations, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain cases could have a material effect upon the Company’s financial position, based on information currently known by the Company’s management, in its opinion, the outcomes of such pending investigations and legal proceedings are not likely to have such an effect. However, given the large and/or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these matters and the inherent unpredictability of litigation, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated net income or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.

Insolvency Assessments

Most of the jurisdictions in which the Company is admitted to transact business require insurers doing business within the jurisdiction to participate in guaranty associations, which are organized to pay contractual benefits owed pursuant to insurance policies issued by impaired, insolvent or failed insurers. These associations levy assessments, up to prescribed limits, on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired, insolvent or failed insurer engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets.

Assets and liabilities held for insolvency assessments were as follows:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Other Assets:
Premium tax offset for future discounted and undiscounted assessments	$	13	$	13
Premium tax offsets currently available for paid assessments	5		8
Total	$	18	$	21
Other Liabilities:
Insolvency assessments	$	17	$	17

Commitments

Mortgage Loan Commitments

The Company commits to lend funds under mortgage loan commitments. The amounts of these mortgage loan commitments were $388 million and $335 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Commitments to Fund Partnership Investments and Private Corporate Bond Investments

The Company commits to fund partnership investments and to lend funds under private corporate bond investments. The amounts of these unfunded commitments were $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Other Commitments

The Company had entered into collateral arrangements with former affiliates which required the transfer of collateral in connection with secured demand notes. These arrangements expired during the first quarter of 2017 and the Company is no longer transferring collateral to custody accounts. At December 31, 2016, the Company had agreed to fund up to $20 million of cash upon the request by these former affiliates and had transferred collateral consisting of various securities with a fair market value of $25 million to custody accounts to secure the demand notes. Each of these former affiliates was permitted by contract to sell or re-pledge this collateral

Guarantees

In the normal course of its business, the Company has provided certain indemnities, guarantees and commitments to third parties such that it may be required to make payments now or in the future. In the context of acquisition, disposition, investment and other transactions, the Company has provided indemnities and guarantees, including those related to tax, environmental and other specific liabilities and other indemnities and guarantees that are triggered by, among other things, breaches of representations, warranties or covenants provided by the Company. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Company provides indemnifications to counterparties in contracts with triggers similar to the foregoing, as well as for certain other liabilities, such as third-party lawsuits. These obligations are often subject to time limitations that vary in duration, including contractual limitations and those that arise by operation of law, such as applicable statutes of limitation. In some cases, the maximum potential obligation under the indemnities and guarantees is subject to a contractual limitation ranging from $6 million to $203 million, with a cumulative maximum of $208 million, while in other cases such limitations are not specified or applicable. Since certain of these obligations are not subject to limitations, the Company does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount that could become due under these guarantees in the future. Management believes that it is unlikely the Company will have to make any material payments under these indemnities, guarantees, or commitments.

In addition, the Company indemnifies its directors and officers as provided in its charters and by-laws. Also, the Company indemnifies its agents for liabilities incurred as a result of their representation of the Company’s interests. Since these indemnities are generally not subject to limitation with respect to duration or amount, the Company does not believe that it is possible to determine the maximum potential amount that could become due under these indemnities in the future.

The Company’s recorded liabilities were $2 million at both December 31, 2017 and 2016 for indemnities, guarantees and commitments.

Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Related Party Transactions

15. Related Party Transactions

The Company has various existing arrangements with its Brighthouse affiliates and MetLife for services necessary to conduct its activities. Subsequent to the Separation, certain of the MetLife services continued, as provided for under a master service agreement and various transition services agreements entered into in connection with the Separation.

Non-Broker-Dealer Transactions

The following table summarizes income and expense from transactions with related parties (excluding broker-dealer transactions) for the years indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Income	$	(149	)	$	(45	)	$	36
Expense	$	933		$	370		$	855

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities from transactions with related parties (excluding broker-dealer transactions) at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Assets	$	2,839	$	4,288
Liabilities	$	2,675	$	5,125

The material arrangements between the Company and its related parties are as follows:

Reinsurance Agreements

The Company has reinsurance agreements with its affiliate NELICO and certain of MetLife, Inc.’s subsidiaries, all of which are related parties. See Note 6 for further discussion of the related party reinsurance agreements.

Financing Arrangements

Prior to the Separation, the Company had surplus notes outstanding to MetLife, Inc., as well as collateral financing arrangement with a third party that involved MetLife, Inc. See Note 10 for more information.

Investment Transactions

Prior to the Separation, the Company had extended loans to certain subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. Additionally, in the ordinary course of business, the Company had previously transferred invested assets, primarily consisting of fixed maturity securities, to and from former affiliates. See Note 7 for further discussion of the related party investment transactions.

Shared Services and Overhead Allocations

Brighthouse affiliates and MetLife provides the Company certain services, which include, but are not limited to, treasury, financial planning and analysis, legal, human resources, tax planning, internal audit, financial reporting, and information technology. In 2017, the Company is charged for the MetLife services through a transition services agreement and allocated to the legal entities and products within the Company. When specific identification to a particular legal entity and/or product is not practicable, an allocation methodology based on various performance measures or activity-based costing, such as sales, new policies/contracts issued, reserves, and in-force policy counts is used. The bases for such charges are modified and adjusted by management when necessary or appropriate to reflect fairly and equitably the actual incidence of cost incurred by the Company and/or affiliate. Management believes that the methods used to allocate expenses under these arrangements are reasonable. Expenses incurred with Brighthouse affiliates and MetLife related to these arrangements, recorded in other expenses, were $1.0 billion, $847 million and $1.1 billion for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Sales Distribution Services

In July 2016, MetLife, Inc. completed the sale to MassMutual of MetLife’s retail advisor force and certain assets associated with the MetLife Premier Client Group, including all of the issued and outstanding shares of MSI. MassMutual assumed all of the liabilities related to such assets and that arise or occur after the closing of the sale.

Broker-Dealer Transactions

Beginning in March 2017, Brighthouse Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer affiliate, began distributing certain of the Company’s existing and future variable insurance products, and the MetLife broker-dealers discontinued such distributions. Prior to March 2017, the Company recognized related party revenues and expenses arising from transactions with MetLife broker-dealers that previously sold the Company’s variable annuity and life products. The related party expense for the Company was commissions collected on the sale of variable products by the Company and passed through to the broker-dealer. The related party revenue for the Company was fee income from trusts and mutual funds whose shares serve as investment options of policyholders of the Company.

The following table summarizes income and expense from transactions with related party broker-dealers for the years indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Fee income	$	224	$	202	$	218
Commission expense	$	642	$	638	$	643

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities from transactions with related party broker-dealers at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Fee income receivables	$	19	$	19
Secured demand notes	$	—	$	20

Consolidated Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties [Abstract]

Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties [Text Block]

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

(An Indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.)

Schedule I

Consolidated Summary of Investments

Other Than Investments in Related Parties

December 31, 2017

(In millions)



Types of Investments	Cost or Amortized Cost (1)		Estimated Fair Value		Amount at Which Shown on Balance Sheet
Fixed maturity securities:
Bonds:
U.S. government and agency securities	$	14,185	$	15,913	$	15,913
State and political subdivision securities	3,573		4,098		4,098
Public utilities	2,111		2,408		2,408
Foreign government securities	1,111		1,267		1,267
All other corporate bonds	24,755		26,400		26,400
Total bonds	45,735		50,086		50,086
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities	12,626		12,904		12,904
Redeemable preferred stock	238		343		343
Total fixed maturity securities	58,599		63,333		63,333
Equity securities:
Non-redeemable preferred stock	129		138		138
Common stock:
Industrial, miscellaneous and all other	83		92		92
Public utilities	—		2		2
Total equity securities	212		232		232
Mortgage loans	10,640				10,640
Policy loans	1,106				1,106
Real estate joint ventures	433				433
Other limited partnership interests	1,667				1,667
Short-term investments	269				269
Other invested assets	2,448				2,448
Total investments	$	75,374			$	80,128

______________

(1)

Cost or amortized cost for fixed maturity securities and mortgage loans represents original cost reduced by repayments, valuation allowances and impairments from other-than-temporary declines in estimated fair value that are charged to earnings and adjusted for amortization of premiums or accretion of discounts; for equity securities, cost represents original cost reduced by impairments from other-than-temporary declines in estimated fair value; for real estate joint ventures and other limited partnership interests, cost represents original cost reduced for impairments or original cost adjusted for equity in earnings and distributions.

Condensed Financial Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]

Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company)

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information

(Parent Company Only)

December 31, 2017 and 2016

(In millions, except share and per share data)



	2017				2016
Condensed Balance Sheets
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost: $50,878 and $49,356, respectively)	$	55,180			$	51,880
Equity securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value (cost: $193 and $280, respectively)	210				300
Mortgage loans (net of valuation allowances of $44 and $38, respectively)	10,127				8,746
Policy loans	1,106				1,093
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	419				200
Other limited partnership interests	1,662				1,632
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269				926
Investment in subsidiaries	5,681				7,338
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	2,291				3,712
Total investments	76,945				75,827
Cash and cash equivalents	1,249				1,881
Accrued investment income	511				591
Premium, reinsurance and other receivable	9,658			—	10,397
Receivable from subsidiaries	10,397				9,703
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	5,123				5,274
Current income tax recoverable	39				454
Deferred income tax receivable	1,247				1,016
Other assets, principally at estimated fair value	536				667
Separate account assets	105,135				100,588
Total assets	$	210,840			$	206,398
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	$	35,003			$	31,684
Policyholder account balances	36,034				35,588
Other policy-related balances	3,347				3,384
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	4,153				7,362
Long-term debt	—				744
Other liabilities	10,315				10,183
Separate account liabilities	105,135				100,588
Total liabilities	193,987				189,533
Stockholder’s Equity
Common stock, par value $25,000 per share; 4,000 shares authorized; 3,000 shares issued and outstanding	75				75
Additional paid-in capital	19,073				18,461
Retained earnings (deficit)	(4,132		)		(2,919		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1,837				1,248
Total stockholder’s equity	16,853				16,865
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity	$	210,840			$	206,398

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial information.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information (continued)

(Parent Company Only)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In millions)



	2017			2016			2015
Condensed Statements of Operations
Revenues
Premiums	$	283		$	921		$	1,433
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	2,774			2,696			2,940
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	1,221			157			144
Net investment income	2,613			2,680			2,550
Other revenues	402			760			504
Net investment gains (losses)	(7		)	(2		)	20
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,425		)	(5,878		)	(424		)
Total revenues	5,861			1,334			7,167
Expenses
Policyholder benefits and claims	2,862			2,984			2,696
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	909			957			1,037
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	310			(172		)	595
Other expenses	1,848			2,114			1,710
Total expenses	5,929			5,883			6,038
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(68		)	(4,549		)	1,129
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	815			(1,774		)	211
Net income (loss)	$	(883	)	$	(2,775	)	$	918
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	(294	)	$	(3,121	)	$	(110	)

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial information.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information (continued)

(Parent Company Only)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In millions)



	2017			2016			2015
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$	3,460		$	3,256		$	4,196
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of:
Fixed maturity securities	14,667			39,104			35,728
Equity securities	119			175			308
Mortgage loans	704			1,484			958
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	75			441			368
Other limited partnership interests	258			413			422
Purchases of:
Fixed maturity securities	(16,287		)	(34,906		)	(39,298		)
Equity securities	(2		)	(58		)	(273		)
Mortgage loans	(2,017		)	(2,803		)	(2,515		)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	(268		)	(75		)	(105		)
Other limited partnership interests	(263		)	(203		)	(233		)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,858			707			223
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,829		)	(2,764		)	(868		)
Cash received under repurchase agreements	—			—			199
Cash paid under repurchase agreements	—			—			(199		)
Cash received under reverse repurchase agreements	—			—			199
Cash paid under reverse repurchase agreements	—			—			(199		)
Sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	67			—			—
Returns of capital from subsidiaries	7			32			169
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	(83		)	(1		)	(2		)
Dividends from subsidiaries	544			—			—
Net change in policy loans	(14		)	109			(72		)
Net change in short-term investments	711			876			(495		)
Net change in other invested assets	(41		)	5			(59		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,794		)	2,536			(5,744		)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits	3,845			9,672			19,970
Withdrawals	(2,360		)	(12,001		)	(20,797		)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(3,136		)	(3,257		)	3,118
Long-term debt issued	—			—			175
Long-term debt repaid	—			—			(148		)
Capital contributions	1,300			1,568			11
Capital contribution associated with the sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	202			—			—
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	—			(261		)	(500		)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(149		)	(1,011		)	(97		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(298		)	(5,290		)	1,732
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	—			—			(2		)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(632		)	502			182
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,881			1,379			1,197
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	1,249		$	1,881		$	1,379

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial information.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Schedule II

Condensed Financial Information (continued)

(Parent Company Only)

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In millions)



	2017			2016		2015
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Net cash paid (received) for:
Interest	$	12		$	64	$	65
Income tax	$	(421	)	$	428	$	(267	)
Non-cash transactions:
Capital contributions	$	—		$	43	$	141
Transfer of fixed maturity securities from former affiliates	$	—		$	3,565	$	—
Transfer of mortgage loans from former affiliates	$	—		$	395	$	—
Transfer of short-term investments from former affiliates	$	—		$	94	$	—
Transfer of fixed maturity securities to former affiliates	$	293		$	346	$	—
Reduction of other invested assets in connection with affiliated reinsurance transactions	$	—		$	676	$	—
Reduction of policyholder account balances in connection with reinsurance transactions	$	293		$	—	$	—

See accompanying notes to the condensed financial information.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

Schedule II

Notes to the Condensed Financial Information

(Parent Company Only)

1. Basis of Presentation

The condensed financial information of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company (the “Parent Company”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Brighthouse Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries and the notes thereto (the “Consolidated Financial Statements”). These condensed unconsolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the Parent Company. Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

The preparation of these condensed unconsolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to adopt accounting policies and make certain estimates and assumptions. The most important of these estimates and assumptions relate to the fair value measurements, identifiable intangible assets and the provision for potential losses that may arise from litigation and regulatory proceedings and tax audits, which may affect the amounts reported in the condensed unconsolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

2. Investment in Subsidiaries

During the year ended December 31, 2017, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company paid cash capital contributions of $83 million to subsidiaries, of which $75 million was paid to BHNY.

During the year ended December 31, 2017, Brighthouse Life Insurance Company received $544 million of cash dividends from subsidiaries, of which $535 million was received from BRCD.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for condensed financial information, including the financial position, cash flows, and the results of operations of the registrant (parent company) as of the same dates or for the same periods for which audited consolidated financial statements are being presented. Alternatively, the details of this disclosure can be reported by the specific parent company taxonomy elements, indicating the appropriate date and period contexts in an instance document.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Supplementary Insurance Information [Abstract]

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

(An Indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.)

Schedule III

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information

December 31, 2017 and 2016

(In millions)



Segment	DAC and VOBA		Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances		Policyholder Account Balances		Unearned Premiums (1), (2)		Unearned Revenue (1)
2017
Annuities	$	4,819	$	8,200	$	25,943	$	—	$	93
Life	671		4,437		2,620		13		28
Run-off	5		18,265		8,505		—		95
Corporate & Other	128		7,533		1		5		—
Total	$	5,623	$	38,435	$	37,069	$	18	$	216
2016
Annuities	$	4,820	$	7,560	$	25,233	$	—	$	86
Life	787		4,094		2,838		13		53
Run-off	584		16,381		8,506		—		79
Corporate & Other	148		7,429		2		6		—
Total	$	6,339	$	35,464	$	36,579	$	19	$	218

______________


(1)	Amounts are included within the future policy benefits and other policy-related balances column.


(2)	Includes premiums received in advance.

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

(An Indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.)

Schedule III

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information — (continued)

December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(In millions)



Segment	Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees		Net Investment Income (1)		Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances		Amortization of DAC and VOBA			Other Expenses
2017
Annuities	$	2,448	$	1,238	$	2,140	$	141		$	1,035
Life	713		285		681		186			237
Run-off	715		1,358		1,788		570			278
Corporate & Other	108		92		61		19			283
Total	$	3,984	$	2,973	$	4,670	$	916		$	1,833
2016
Annuities	$	2,714	$	1,324	$	2,340	$	(908	)	$	903
Life	546		330		541		261			242
Run-off	878		1,311		1,901		399			275
Corporate & Other	139		146		87		23			280
Total	$	4,277	$	3,111	$	4,869	$	(225	)	$	1,700
2015
Annuities	$	3,282	$	1,141	$	2,285	$	432		$	938
Life	555		295		507		150			259
Run-off	793		1,461		1,301		67			285
Corporate & Other	300		104		218		24			241
Total	$	4,930	$	3,001	$	4,311	$	673		$	1,723

______________


(1)	See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the basis of allocation of net investment income.

Consolidated Reinsurance

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Supplemental Schedule of Reinsurance Premiums for Insurance Companies [Abstract]

Consolidated Reinsurance

Brighthouse Life Insurance Company

(An Indirect Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Brighthouse Financial, Inc.)

Schedule IV

Consolidated Reinsurance

December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

(Dollars in millions)



	Gross Amount		Ceded		Assumed		Net Amount		% Amount Assumed to Net
2017
Life insurance in-force	$	589,488	$	194,032	$	9,006	$	404,462	2.2	%
Insurance premium
Life insurance (1)	$	1,500	$	689	$	13	$	824	1.6	%
Accident & health insurance	231		227		—		4		—	%
Total insurance premium	$	1,731	$	916	$	13	$	828	1.6	%
2016
Life insurance in-force	$	610,206	$	450,000	$	7,006	$	167,212	4.2	%
Insurance premium
Life insurance (1)	$	1,850	$	909	$	67	$	1,008	6.6	%
Accident & health insurance	376		218		14		172		8.1	%
Total insurance premium	$	2,226	$	1,127	$	81	$	1,180	6.9	%
2015
Life insurance in-force	$	591,105	$	466,406	$	94,863	$	219,562	43.2	%
Insurance premium
Life insurance (1)	$	2,172	$	824	$	84	$	1,432	5.9	%
Accident & health insurance	232		239		212		205		103.4	%
Total insurance premium	$	2,404	$	1,063	$	296	$	1,637	18.1	%

______________


(1)	Includes annuities with life contingencies.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, reinsurance ceded and assumed included related party transactions for life insurance in-force of $17.1 billion and $9.0 billion, respectively, and life insurance premiums of $537 million and $13 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, reinsurance ceded and assumed included related party transactions for life insurance in-force of $266.3 billion and $7.0 billion, respectively, and life insurance premiums of $766 million and $35 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2015, reinsurance ceded and assumed included related party transactions for life insurance in-force of $278.4 billion and $86.4 billion, respectively, and life insurance premiums of $687 million and $227 million, respectively.

Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Use of Estimates

Consolidation of Subsidiaries

Consolidation

Since the Company is a member of a controlled group of affiliated companies, its results may not be indicative of those of a stand-alone entity.

Separate Accounts

Future Policy Benefit Liabilities and Policyholder Account Balances

Future policy benefits are measured as follows:



Product Type:		Measurement Assumptions:
Participating life insurance		Aggregate of (i) net level premium reserves for death and endowment policy benefits (calculated based upon the non-forfeiture interest rate of 4%, and mortality rates guaranteed in calculating the cash surrender values described in such contracts); and (ii) the liability for terminal dividends.
Nonparticipating life insurance		Aggregate of the present value of expected future benefit payments and related expenses less the present value of expected future net premiums. Assumptions as to mortality and persistency are based upon the Company’s experience when the basis of the liability is established. Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities range from 3% to 8%.
Individual and group fixed annuities after annuitization		Present value of expected future payments. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 2% to 8%.
Long-term care and disability insurance active life reserves		The net level premium method and assumptions as to future morbidity, withdrawals and interest, which provide a margin for adverse deviation. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 4% to 7%.
Long-term care and disability insurance claim reserves		Present value of benefits method and experience assumptions as to claim terminations, expenses and interest. Interest rate assumptions used in establishing such liabilities range from 3% to 7%.

Variable Annuity Guaranteed Minimum Benefits

Variable Annuity Guarantees



Guarantee:			Measurement Assumptions:
GMDBs	•	A return of purchase payment upon death even if the account value is reduced to zero.	•	Present value of expected death benefits in excess of the projected account balance recognizing the excess ratably over the accumulation period based on the present value of total expected assessments.
	•	An enhanced death benefit may be available for an additional fee.	•	Assumptions are consistent with those used for amortizing DAC, and are thus subject to the same variability and risk.
			•	Investment performance and volatility assumptions are consistent with the historical experience of the appropriate underlying equity index, such as the S&P 500 Index.
			•	Benefit assumptions are based on the average benefits payable over a range of scenarios.
GMIBs	•	After a specified period of time determined at the time of issuance of the variable annuity contract, a minimum accumulation of purchase payments, even if the account value is reduced to zero, that can be annuitized to receive a monthly income stream that is not less than a specified amount.	•	Present value of expected income benefits in excess of the projected account balance at any future date of annuitization and recognizing the excess ratably over the accumulation period based on present value of total expected assessments.
	•	Certain contracts also provide for a guaranteed lump sum return of purchase premium in lieu of the annuitization benefit.	•	Assumptions are consistent with those used for estimating GMDB liabilities.
			•	Calculation incorporates an assumption for the percentage of the potential annuitizations that may be elected by the contract holder.
GMWBs	•	A return of purchase payment via partial withdrawals, even if the account value is reduced to zero, provided that cumulative withdrawals in a contract year do not exceed a certain limit.	•	Expected value of the life contingent payments and expected assessments using assumptions consistent with those used for estimating the GMDB liabilities.
	•	Certain contracts include guaranteed withdrawals that are life contingent.

Embedded Derivatives

Recognition of Insurance Revenues and Deposits

Premiums, policy fees, policyholder benefits and expenses are presented net of reinsurance.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Intangibles


•	incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, such as commissions;


•	the portion of an employee’s total compensation and benefits related to time spent selling, underwriting or processing the issuance of new and renewal insurance business only with respect to actual policies acquired or renewed; and


•	other essential direct costs that would not have been incurred had a policy not been acquired or renewed;

See Note 5 for additional information on DAC and VOBA amortization.

Traditional Life Insurance Contracts

Fixed and Variable Universal Life Contracts and Fixed and Variable Deferred Annuity Contracts

Factors Impacting Amortization

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Intangibles


•	incremental direct costs of contract acquisition, such as commissions;


•	the portion of an employee’s total compensation and benefits related to time spent selling, underwriting or processing the issuance of new and renewal insurance business only with respect to actual policies acquired or renewed; and


•	other essential direct costs that would not have been incurred had a policy not been acquired or renewed;

See Note 5 for additional information on DAC and VOBA amortization.

Traditional Life Insurance Contracts

Fixed and Variable Universal Life Contracts and Fixed and Variable Deferred Annuity Contracts

Factors Impacting Amortization

Deferred Sales Inducements

Reinsurance

Investments

Net Investment Income and Net Investment Gains (Losses)

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities

Mortgage Loans

Policy Loans

Real Estate Joint Ventures and Other Limited Partnership Interests

Short-term Investments

Other Invested Assets

Other invested assets consist principally of freestanding derivatives with positive estimated fair values which are described in “—Derivatives” below.

Securities Lending Program

Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities

Evaluation and Measurement Methodologies

Valuation Allowance Methodology

The Company defines delinquency consistent with industry practice, when mortgage loans are past due as follows: commercial and residential mortgage loans — 60 days and agricultural mortgage loans — 90 days.

Past Due, Nonaccrual and Modified Mortgage Loans

Leveraged Leases

For rental receivables, the primary credit quality indicator is whether the rental receivable is performing or nonperforming, which is assessed monthly. The Company generally defines nonperforming rental receivables as those that are 90 days or more past due.

Purchased Credit Impaired Investments

Variable Interest Entities

Derivatives

Freestanding Derivatives

Hedge Accounting

Embedded Derivatives


•	the combined instrument is not accounted for in its entirety at estimated fair value with changes in estimated fair value recorded in earnings;


•	the terms of the embedded derivative are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract; and


•	a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would qualify as a derivative instrument.

See “— Variable Annuity Guarantees” for additional information on the accounting policy for embedded derivatives bifurcated from variable annuity host contracts.

See Note 9 for a description of the impact of credit risk on the valuation of derivatives.

Fair Value



Level 1	Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. The Company defines active markets based on average trading volume for equity securities. The size of the bid/ask spread is used as an indicator of market activity for fixed maturity securities.



Level 2	Quoted prices in markets that are not active or inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly. These inputs can include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities other than quoted prices in Level 1, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other significant inputs that are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.



Level 3	Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the determination of estimated fair value of the assets or liabilities. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Income Tax

•the nature, frequency, and amount of cumulative financial reporting income and losses in recent years;

•the jurisdiction in which the deferred tax asset was generated;

•the length of time that carryforward can be utilized in the various taxing jurisdiction;

•future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards;

•future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences;

•taxable income in prior carryback years; and

•tax planning strategies.

The Company classifies interest recognized as interest expense and penalties recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Litigation Contingencies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Employee Benefit Plans

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

Except as noted below, the ASUs adopted by the Company during 2017 did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.



Standard	Description	Effective Date	Impact on Financial Statements
ASU 2018-02, Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The amendments to Topic 220 provide an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within AOCI to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act of 2017 (or portion thereof) is recorded.	January 1, 2019 applied in the period of adoption (with early adoption permitted)	The Company elected to early adopt the ASU as of December 31, 2017 and reclassified $330 million from AOCI into retained earnings related to the impact of the Tax Act of 2017. See Notes 11 and 13.
ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	The amendments to Topic 815 (i) refine and expand the criteria for achieving hedge accounting on certain hedging strategies, (ii) require the earnings effect of the hedging instrument be presented in the same line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported, and (iii) eliminate the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness.	January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted)	The Company does not expect a material impact on its financial statements from adoption of the new guidance.
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	The amendments to Topic 326 replace the incurred loss impairment methodology for certain financial instruments with one that reflects expected credit losses based on historical loss information, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The new guidance also requires that an OTTI on a debt security will be recognized as an allowance going forward, such that improvements in expected future cash flows after an impairment will no longer be reflected as a prospective yield adjustment through net investment income, but rather a reversal of the previous impairment and recognized through realized investment gains and losses.	January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted beginning January 1, 2019)	The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Company expects the most significant impacts to be earlier recognition of impairments on mortgage loan investments.
ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	The new guidance changes the current accounting guidance related to (i) the classification and measurement of certain equity investments, (ii) the presentation of changes in the fair value of financial liabilities measured under the FVO that are due to instrument-specific credit risk, and (iii) certain disclosures associated with the fair value of financial instruments. Additionally, there will no longer be a requirement to assess equity securities for impairment since such securities will be measured at fair value through net income.	January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method	Effective January 1, 2018 the Company will carry available-for-sale equity securities and partnerships and joint ventures accounted for under the cost method at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The Company will reclassify unrealized gains related to equity securities of $19 million AOCI to opening retained earnings. Additionally, the Company will adjust the carrying value of partnerships and joint ventures, previously accounted for under the cost method, from cost to fair value, resulting in a $9 million increase to retained earnings.
ASU 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	For those contracts that are impacted, the guidance will require an entity to recognize revenue upon the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled, in exchange for those goods or services.	January 1, 2018 using the retrospective method	No impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Other

Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Information, by Segment



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2017	Annuities		Life			Run-off			Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,230	$	(68	)	$	(466	)	$	(114	)	$	582
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	323		(30		)	(172		)	338			459
Adjusted earnings	$	907	$	(38	)	$	(294	)	$	(452	)	123
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)												(27		)
Net derivative gains (losses)												(1,468		)
Other adjustments to net income												(708		)
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit												1,197
Net income (loss)												$	(883	)

Interest revenue	$	1,263	$	300		$	1,399		$	142
Interest expense	$	—	$	(4	)	$	23		$	39



Balance at December 31, 2017	Annuities		Life		Run-off		Corporate & Other		Total
	(In millions)
Total assets	$	149,920	$	13,044	$	36,719	$	12,362	$	212,045
Separate account assets	$	105,140	$	1,915	$	3,101	$	—	$	110,156
Separate account liabilities	$	105,140	$	1,915	$	3,101	$	—	$	110,156



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2016	Annuities		Life		Run-off			Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,494	$	6	$	(249	)	$	23		$	1,274
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	441		—		(90		)	(10		)	341
Adjusted earnings	$	1,053	$	6	$	(159	)	$	33		933
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)											(67		)
Net derivative gains (losses)											(5,770		)
Other adjustments to net income											98
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit											2,031
Net income (loss)											$	(2,775	)

Interest revenue	$	1,446	$	351	$	1,411		$	197
Interest expense	$	—	$	—	$	60		$	67



Balance at December 31, 2016	Annuities		Life		Run-off		Corporate & Other		Total
	(In millions)
Total assets	$	146,224	$	12,296	$	40,575	$	12,330	$	211,425
Separate account assets	$	100,209	$	1,671	$	3,466	$	—	$	105,346
Separate account liabilities	$	100,209	$	1,671	$	3,466	$	—	$	105,346



	Operating Results
Year Ended December 31, 2015	Annuities		Life			Run-off		Corporate & Other			Total
	(In millions)
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$	1,339	$	(56	)	$	713	$	(77	)	$	1,919
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	329		(21		)	247		(43		)	512
Adjusted earnings	$	1,010	$	(35	)	$	466	$	(34	)	1,407
Adjustments for:
Net investment gains (losses)											5
Net derivative gains (losses)											(497		)
Other adjustments to net income											(262		)
Provision for income tax (expense) benefit											265
Net income (loss)											$	918

Interest revenue	$	1,266	$	313		$	1,551	$	97
Interest expense	$	—	$	—		$	60	$	69

Reconciliation of Revenue from Segments to Consolidated



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	3,721		$	4,423		$	4,665
Life	1,036			1,036			881
Run-off	2,148			2,313			2,366
Corporate & Other	250			338			398
Adjustments	(1,357		)	(5,850		)	(438		)
Total	$	5,798		$	2,260		$	7,872

Premiums, Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees and Other Revenues by Product Groups



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Annuity products	$	2,729	$	3,411	$	3,701
Life insurance products	1,587		1,552		1,529
Other products	4		23		133
Total	$	4,320	$	4,986	$	5,363

Insurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Insurance [Abstract]

Schedule of Financial Instruments Owned and Pledged as Collateral [Table Text Block]



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Liabilities	$	595	$	645

Invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral are presented below at estimated fair value at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits) (1)	$	8,259	$	7,644
Invested assets held in trust (reinsurance agreements) (2)	2,634		9,054
Invested assets pledged as collateral (3)	3,199		3,548
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust, and pledged as collateral	$	14,092	$	20,246

__________________


(1)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, on deposit with governmental authorities relating to certain policy holder liabilities, of which $34 million of the assets on deposit balance represents restricted cash at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.


(2)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, held in trust relating to certain reinsurance transactions. $42 million and $15 million of the assets held in trust balance represents restricted cash at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


(3)	The Company has pledged invested assets in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Note 4) and derivative transactions (see Note 8).

Insurance Liabilities

Information regarding insurance liabilities by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	34,143	$	32,793
Life	7,057		6,932
Run-off	26,770		24,887
Corporate & Other	7,534		7,431
Total	$	75,504	$	72,043

Liabilities for Guarantees

Information regarding the liabilities for guarantees (excluding base policy liabilities and embedded derivatives) relating to annuity and universal and variable life contracts was as follows:



	Annuity Contracts						Universal and Variable Life Contracts
	GMDBs			GMIBs			Secondary Guarantees			Total
	(In millions)
Direct
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	619		$	1,535		$	2,374		$	4,528
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	248			337			413			998
Paid guaranteed benefits	(36		)	—			—			(36		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	831			1,872			2,787			5,490
Incurred guaranteed benefits	335			334			753			1,422
Paid guaranteed benefits	(60		)	—			—			(60		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,106			2,206			3,540			6,852
Incurred guaranteed benefits	367			344			692			1,403
Paid guaranteed benefits	(57		)	—			—			(57		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,416		$	2,550		$	4,232		$	8,198
Net Ceded/(Assumed)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	(21	)	$	(26	)	$	846		$	799
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	20			(2		)	161			179
Paid guaranteed benefits	(33		)	—			—			(33		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	(34		)	(28		)	1,007			945
Incurred guaranteed benefits	44			9			98			151
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	(45		)	(19		)	1,105			1,041
Incurred guaranteed benefits	94			(28		)	(159		)	(93		)
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55		)	—			—			(55		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	(6	)	$	(47	)	$	946		$	893
Net
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	640		$	1,561		$	1,528		$	3,729
Incurred guaranteed benefits (1)	228			339			252			819
Paid guaranteed benefits	(3		)	—			—			(3		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	865			1,900			1,780			4,545
Incurred guaranteed benefits	291			325			655			1,271
Paid guaranteed benefits	(5		)	—			—			(5		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,151			2,225			2,435			5,811
Incurred guaranteed benefits	273			372			851			1,496
Paid guaranteed benefits	(2		)	—			—			(2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,422		$	2,597		$	3,286		$	7,305

______________


(1)	See Note 6.

Fund Groupings

Account balances of contracts with guarantees were invested in separate account asset classes as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Fund Groupings:
Balanced	$	54,729	$	52,170
Equity	43,685		41,152
Bond	6,082		6,086
Money Market	605		703
Total	$	105,101	$	100,111

Information regarding the Company’s guarantee exposure was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017						2016
	In the Event of Death			At Annuitization			In the Event of Death			At Annuitization
	(Dollars in millions)
Annuity Contracts (1), (2)
Variable Annuity Guarantees
Total account value (3)	$	105,061		$	59,691		$	106,590		$	61,340
Separate account value	$	100,043		$	58,511		$	101,991		$	60,016
Net amount at risk	$	5,200	(4)	$	2,330	(5)	$	6,763	(4)	$	3,116	(5)
Average attained age of contract holders	68 years			68 years			67 years			67 years



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	Secondary Guarantees
	(Dollars in millions)
Universal Life Contracts
Total account value (3)	$	6,244	$	6,216
Net amount at risk (6)	$	75,304	$	76,216
Average attained age of policyholders	64 years		63 years

Variable Life Contracts
Total account value (3)	$	1,021	$	960
Net amount at risk (6)	$	13,848	$	14,757
Average attained age of policyholders	44 years		43 years

______________


(1)	The Company’s annuity contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract. Therefore, the amounts listed above may not be mutually exclusive.


(2)	Includes direct business, but excludes offsets from hedging or reinsurance, if any. Therefore, the net amount at risk presented reflects the economic exposures of living and death benefit guarantees associated with variable annuities, but not necessarily their impact on the Company. See Note 6 for a discussion of guaranteed minimum benefits which have been reinsured.


(3)	Includes the contract holder’s investments in the general account and separate account, if applicable.


(4)	Defined as the death benefit less the total account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date and includes any additional contractual claims associated with riders purchased to assist with covering income taxes payable upon death.

(5)


(6)	Defined as the guarantee amount less the account value, as of the balance sheet date. It represents the amount of the claim that the Company would incur if death claims were filed on all contracts on the balance sheet date.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net [Abstract]

Schedule of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired

Information regarding DAC and VOBA was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DAC:
Balance at January 1,	$	5,667		$	5,066		$	5,097
Capitalizations	256			330			399
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	127			1,371			163
Other expenses	(958		)	(1,076		)	(690		)
Total amortization	(831		)	295			(527		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(77		)	(24		)	97
Balance at December 31,	5,015			5,667			5,066
VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	672			711			763
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	(9		)	2			(19		)
Other expenses	(76		)	(72		)	(127		)
Total amortization	(85		)	(70		)	(146		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	21			31			94
Balance at December 31,	608			672			711
Total DAC and VOBA:
Balance at December 31,	$	5,623		$	6,339		$	5,777

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Information regarding DAC and VOBA was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DAC:
Balance at January 1,	$	5,667		$	5,066		$	5,097
Capitalizations	256			330			399
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	127			1,371			163
Other expenses	(958		)	(1,076		)	(690		)
Total amortization	(831		)	295			(527		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(77		)	(24		)	97
Balance at December 31,	5,015			5,667			5,066
VOBA:
Balance at January 1,	672			711			763
Amortization related to:
Net investment gains (losses) and net derivative gains (losses)	(9		)	2			(19		)
Other expenses	(76		)	(72		)	(127		)
Total amortization	(85		)	(70		)	(146		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	21			31			94
Balance at December 31,	608			672			711
Total DAC and VOBA:
Balance at December 31,	$	5,623		$	6,339		$	5,777

Information Regarding Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Value of Business Acquired by Segment

Information regarding total DAC and VOBA by segment, as well as Corporate & Other, was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Annuities	$	4,819	$	4,820
Life	671		787
Run-off	5		584
Corporate & Other	128		148
Total	$	5,623	$	6,339

Deferred Sales Inducements

Information regarding other intangibles was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DSI:
Balance at January 1,	$	432		$	515		$	566
Capitalization	2			3			3
Amortization	(12		)	(83		)	(72		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(11		)	(3		)	18
Balance at December 31,	$	411		$	432		$	515
VODA:
Balance at January 1,	$	120		$	136		$	155
Amortization	(15		)	(16		)	(19		)
Balance at December 31,	$	105		$	120		$	136
Accumulated amortization	$	155		$	140		$	124

Value of Distribution Agreements and Customer Relationships Acquired

Information regarding other intangibles was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
DSI:
Balance at January 1,	$	432		$	515		$	566
Capitalization	2			3			3
Amortization	(12		)	(83		)	(72		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(11		)	(3		)	18
Balance at December 31,	$	411		$	432		$	515
VODA:
Balance at January 1,	$	120		$	136		$	155
Amortization	(15		)	(16		)	(19		)
Balance at December 31,	$	105		$	120		$	136
Accumulated amortization	$	155		$	140		$	124

Estimated Future Amortization Expense

The estimated future amortization expense to be reported in other expenses for the next five years is as follows:



	VOBA		VODA
	(In millions)
2018	$	98	$	14
2019	$	84	$	13
2020	$	62	$	12
2021	$	53	$	10
2022	$	46	$	9

Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Reinsurance Disclosure [Line Items]

Effects of reinsurance

The amounts on the consolidated balance sheets include the impact of reinsurance. Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017									2016
	Direct		Assumed			Ceded		Total Balance Sheet		Direct		Assumed		Ceded		Total Balance Sheet
	(In millions)
Assets
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	367	$	43		$	12,508	$	12,918	$	1,161	$	23	$	12,669	$	13,853
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	36,359	$	710		$	—	$	37,069	$	35,838	$	741	$	—	$	36,579
Other policy-related balances	1,037		1,683			—		2,720		1,035		1,677		—		2,712
Other liabilities	3,724		(6		)	701		4,419		4,525		13		907		5,445

The amounts on the consolidated statements of operations include the impact of reinsurance. Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Premiums
Direct premiums	$	1,731		$	2,226		$	2,404
Reinsurance assumed	13			81			296
Reinsurance ceded	(916		)	(1,127		)	(1,063		)
Net premiums	$	828		$	1,180		$	1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
Direct universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	3,653		$	3,582		$	3,722
Reinsurance assumed	103			126			139
Reinsurance ceded	(600		)	(611		)	(568		)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	3,156		$	3,097		$	3,293
Other revenues
Direct other revenues	$	260		$	271		$	271
Reinsurance assumed	29			89			2
Reinsurance ceded	47			349			160
Net other revenues	$	336		$	709		$	433
Policyholder benefits and claims
Direct policyholder benefits and claims	$	5,080		$	6,101		$	4,944
Reinsurance assumed	89			127			302
Reinsurance ceded	(1,575		)	(2,490		)	(2,159		)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	$	3,594		$	3,738		$	3,087

Affiliated Entity [Member]

Reinsurance Disclosure [Line Items]

Effects of reinsurance

Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance with NELICO and former MetLife affiliates included on the consolidated statements of operations was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Premiums
Reinsurance assumed	$	13		$	35		$	227
Reinsurance ceded	(537		)	(766		)	(687		)
Net premiums	$	(524	)	$	(731	)	$	(460	)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
Reinsurance assumed	$	103		$	126		$	139
Reinsurance ceded	(14		)	(60		)	(58		)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	$	89		$	66		$	81
Other revenues
Reinsurance assumed	$	29		$	59		$	2
Reinsurance ceded	44			348			160
Net other revenues	$	73		$	407		$	162
Policyholder benefits and claims
Reinsurance assumed	$	87		$	90		$	252
Reinsurance ceded	(420		)	(737		)	(656		)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	$	(333	)	$	(647	)	$	(404	)

Information regarding the significant effects of reinsurance with NELICO and former MetLife affiliates included on the consolidated balance sheets was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
	Assumed			Ceded		Assumed		Ceded
	(In millions)
Assets
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	34		$	3,254	$	23	$	3,382
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	436		$	—	$	741	$	—
Other policy-related balances	$	1,683		$	—	$	1,677	$	—
Other liabilities	$	(8	)	$	401	$	11	$	578

Investments (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale

The following table presents the fixed maturity and equity securities AFS by sector at:



	December 31, 2017											December 31, 2016
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value		Cost or Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized							Estimated Fair Value
	Cost or Amortized Cost		Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)			Estimated Fair Value		Cost or Amortized Cost		Gains		Temporary Losses		OTTI Losses (1)			Estimated Fair Value
										(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities: (2)
U.S. corporate	$	20,647	$	1,822	$	89	$	—		$	22,380	$	20,663	$	1,287	$	285	$	—		$	21,665
U.S. government and agency	14,185		1,844		116		—			15,913		11,872		1,281		237		—			12,916
RMBS	7,588		283		57		(3		)	7,817		7,876		203		139		—			7,940
Foreign corporate	6,457		376		62		—			6,771		6,071		220		168		—			6,123
State and political subdivision	3,573		532		6		1			4,098		3,520		376		38		—			3,858
CMBS	3,259		48		17		(1		)	3,291		3,687		40		32		(1		)	3,696
ABS	1,779		19		2		—			1,796		2,600		11		13		—			2,598
Foreign government	1,111		159		3		—			1,267		1,000		114		11		—			1,103
Total fixed maturity securities	$	58,599	$	5,083	$	352	$	(3	)	$	63,333	$	57,289	$	3,532	$	923	$	(1	)	$	59,899
Equity securities (2)	$	212	$	21	$	1	$	—		$	232	$	280	$	29	$	9	$	—		$	300

______________


(1)	Noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI in an unrealized gain position are due to increases in estimated fair value subsequent to initial recognition of noncredit losses on such securities. See also “— Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses).”


(2)	Redeemable preferred stock is reported within U.S. corporate and foreign corporate fixed maturity securities and non-redeemable preferred stock is reported within equity securities. Included within fixed maturity securities are Structured Securities.

Available-for-sale fixed maturity securities by contractual maturity date

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities, by contractual maturity date, were as follows at December 31, 2017:



	Due in One Year or Less		Due After One Year Through Five Years		Due After Five Years Through Ten Years		Due After Ten Years		Structured Securities		Total Fixed Maturity Securities
	(In millions)
Amortized cost	$	1,833	$	10,018	$	11,131	$	22,991	$	12,626	$	58,599
Estimated fair value	$	1,838	$	10,347	$	11,458	$	26,786	$	12,904	$	63,333

Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale



	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months				Less than 12 Months				Equal to or Greater than 12 Months
	Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value		Gross Unrealized Losses
	(Dollars in millions)
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	1,762	$	21	$	1,413	$	68	$	4,632	$	187	$	699	$	98
U.S. government and agency	4,764		36		1,573		80		4,396		237		—		—
RMBS	2,308		13		1,292		41		3,457		107		818		32
Foreign corporate	636		8		559		54		1,443		64		573		104
State and political subdivision	171		3		106		4		887		35		29		3
CMBS	603		6		335		10		1,553		26		171		5
ABS	165		—		75		2		450		5		461		8
Foreign government	152		2		50		1		242		10		6		1
Total fixed maturity securities	$	10,561	$	89	$	5,403	$	260	$	17,060	$	671	$	2,757	$	251
Equity securities:	$	17	$	—	$	10	$	1	$	57	$	2	$	40	$	7
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position	914				623				1,711				475

Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Table Text Block]

Mortgage loans are summarized as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
	Carrying Value			% of Total		Carrying Value			% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Mortgage loans:
Commercial	$	7,233		67.9	%	$	6,497		69.9	%
Agricultural	2,200			20.7		1,830			19.7
Residential	1,138			10.7		867			9.3
Subtotal (1)	10,571			99.3		9,194			98.9
Valuation allowances (2)	(46		)	(0.4	)	(40		)	(0.4	)
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	10,525			98.9		9,154			98.5
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	115			1.1		136			1.5
Total mortgage loans, net	$	10,640		100.0	%	$	9,290		100.0	%

(1)


(2)	The valuation allowances were primarily from collective evaluation (non-specific loan related).

Investment in leveraged leases

Investment in leveraged leases consisted of the following at:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Rental receivables, net	$	87		$	87
Estimated residual values	14			14
Subtotal	101			101
Unearned income	(35		)	(32		)
Investment in leveraged leases, net of non-recourse debt	$	66		$	69

Components of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

The components of net unrealized investment gains (losses), included in AOCI, were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities	$	4,722		$	2,600		$	2,283
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI	2			1			(23		)
Total fixed maturity securities	4,724			2,601			2,260
Equity securities	39			32			54
Derivatives	231			397			370
Short-term investments	—			(42		)	—
Other	(8		)	59			79
Subtotal	4,986			3,047			2,763
Amounts allocated from:
Future policy benefits	(2,370		)	(922		)	(126		)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(2		)	(2		)	(1		)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(260		)	(193		)	(198		)
Subtotal	(2,632		)	(1,117		)	(325		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1			—			9
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(495		)	(653		)	(827		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	1,860		$	1,277		$	1,620

The changes in net unrealized investment gains (losses) were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	1,277		$	1,620		$	2,628
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized	1			24			15
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the year	1,938			260			(2,303		)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to:
Future policy benefits	(1,448		)	(796		)	487
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	—			(1		)	1
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(67		)	5			208
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1			(9		)	(5		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	158			174			589
Balance at December 31,	$	1,860		$	1,277		$	1,620
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$	583		$	(343	)	$	(1,008	)

Securities Lending

Elements of the securities lending program are presented below at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Securities on loan: (1)
Amortized cost	$	3,085	$	5,895
Estimated fair value	$	3,748	$	6,555
Cash collateral received from counterparties (2)	$	3,791	$	6,642
Security collateral received from counterparties (3)	$	29	$	27
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	$	3,823	$	6,571

______________


(1)	Included within fixed maturity securities.


(2)	Included within payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions.


(3)	Security collateral received from counterparties may not be sold or re-pledged, unless the counterparty is in default, and is not reflected on the consolidated financial statements.

The cash collateral liability by loaned security type and remaining tenor of the agreements were as follows at:



	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements								Remaining Tenor of Securities Lending Agreements
	Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total		Open (1)		1 Month or Less		1 to 6 Months		Total
	(In millions)
Cash collateral liability by loaned security type:
U.S. government and agency	$	1,626	$	964	$	1,201	$	3,791	$	2,129	$	1,906	$	1,743	$	5,778
U.S. corporate	—		—		—		—		—		480		—		480
Agency RMBS	—		—		—		—		—		—		274		274
Foreign corporate	—		—		—		—		—		58		—		58
Foreign government	—		—		—		—		—		52		—		52
Total	$	1,626	$	964	$	1,201	$	3,791	$	2,129	$	2,496	$	2,017	$	6,642

_____________


(1)	The related loaned security could be returned to the Company on the next business day which would require the Company to immediately return the cash collateral.

Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Liabilities	$	595	$	645

Invested assets on deposit, held in trust and pledged as collateral are presented below at estimated fair value at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits) (1)	$	8,259	$	7,644
Invested assets held in trust (reinsurance agreements) (2)	2,634		9,054
Invested assets pledged as collateral (3)	3,199		3,548
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust, and pledged as collateral	$	14,092	$	20,246

__________________


(1)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, on deposit with governmental authorities relating to certain policy holder liabilities, of which $34 million of the assets on deposit balance represents restricted cash at both December 31, 2017 and 2016.


(2)	The Company has assets, primarily fixed maturity securities, held in trust relating to certain reinsurance transactions. $42 million and $15 million of the assets held in trust balance represents restricted cash at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


(3)	The Company has pledged invested assets in connection with various agreements and transactions, including funding agreements (see Note 4) and derivative transactions (see Note 8).

Purchased credit impaired investments, by invested asset class, held

The following table presents activity for the accretable yield on PCI fixed maturity securities for:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Accretable yield, January 1,	$	419		$	400
Investments purchased	1			142
Accretion recognized in earnings	(67		)	(66		)
Disposals	(10		)	(8		)
Reclassification (to) from nonaccretable difference	34			(49		)
Accretable yield, December 31,	$	377		$	419

The following table presents information about PCI fixed maturity securities acquired during the periods indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Contractually required payments (including interest)	$	3	$	558
Cash flows expected to be collected (1)	$	3	$	483
Fair value of investments acquired	$	2	$	341

______________


(1)	Represents undiscounted principal and interest cash flow expectations, at the date of acquisition.

The Company’s PCI fixed maturity securities were as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Outstanding principal and interest balance (1)	$	1,237	$	1,458
Carrying value (2)	$	1,020	$	1,113

______________


(1)	Represents the contractually required payments, which is the sum of contractual principal, whether or not currently due, and accrued interest.


(2)	Estimated fair value plus accrued interest.

The Components of Net Investment Income

The components of net investment income were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Investment income:
Fixed maturity securities	$	2,347	$	2,567	$	2,398
Equity securities	12		19		19
Mortgage loans	442		393		367
Policy loans	49		54		54
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	53		32		108
Other limited partnership interests	182		163		134
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	30		20		9
Other	25		25		22
Subtotal	3,140		3,273		3,111
Less: Investment expenses	175		173		126
Subtotal, net	2,965		3,100		2,985
FVO CSEs — interest income — commercial mortgage loans	8		11		16
Net investment income	$	2,973	$	3,111	$	3,001

The components of net investment gains (losses)

The components of net investment gains (losses) were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities:
Total OTTI losses recognized — by sector and industry:
U.S. and foreign corporate securities — by industry:
Industrial	$	—		$	(16	)	$	(3	)
Consumer	—			—			(8		)
Utility	—			—			(6		)
Total U.S. and foreign corporate securities	—			(16		)	(17		)
RMBS	—			(6		)	(14		)
State and political subdivision	(1		)	—			—
OTTI losses on fixed maturity securities recognized in earnings	(1		)	(22		)	(31		)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	(25		)	(28		)	(60		)
Total gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities	(26		)	(50		)	(91		)
Total gains (losses) on equity securities:
OTTI losses on equity securities recognized in earnings	(4		)	(2		)	(3		)
Equity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	26			10			18
Total gains (losses) on equity securities	22			8			15
Mortgage loans	(9		)	5			(11		)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	4			(34		)	98
Other limited partnership interests	(11		)	(7		)	(1		)
Other	(4		)	11			(2		)
Subtotal	(24		)	(67		)	8
FVO CSEs:
Commercial mortgage loans	(3		)	(2		)	(7		)
Long-term debt - related to commercial mortgage loans	1			1			4
Non-investment portfolio gains (losses)	(1		)	1			—
Subtotal	(3		)	—			(3		)
Total net investment gains (losses)	$	(27	)	$	(67	)	$	5

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains and losses

Proceeds from sales or disposals of fixed maturity and equity securities and the components of fixed maturity and equity securities net investment gains (losses) were as shown in the table below.



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
	Fixed Maturity Securities									Equity Securities
	(In millions)
Proceeds	$	11,974		$	39,210		$	32,085		$	68		$	48		$	80
Gross investment gains	$	58		$	253		$	184		$	27		$	10		$	26
Gross investment losses	(83		)	(281		)	(244		)	(1		)	—			(8		)
OTTI losses	(1		)	(22		)	(31		)	(4		)	(2		)	(3		)
Net investment gains (losses)	$	(26	)	$	(50	)	$	(91	)	$	22		$	8		$	15

Rollforward of the Cumulative Credit Loss Component of OTTI income (loss)



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	28		$	66
Additions:
Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired	—			5
Reductions:
Sales (maturities, pay downs or prepayments) of securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI	(28		)	(42		)
Increase in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI	—			(1		)
Balance at December 31,	$	—		$	28

Schedule of Invested Assets Transferred To and From Affiliates

The Company previously transferred fixed maturity securities, mortgage loans, real estate and real estate joint ventures, to and from former affiliates, which were as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016		2015
	(In millions)
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	$	292		$	1,495	$	185
Amortized cost of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	$	294		$	1,400	$	169
Net investment gains (losses) recognized on transfers	$	(2	)	$	27	$	16
Change in additional paid-in-capital recognized on transfers	$	—		$	68	$	—
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred from former affiliates	$	—		$	5,582	$	928

Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entities

The following table presents the total assets and total liabilities relating to VIEs for which the Company has concluded that it is the primary beneficiary and which are consolidated at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
MRSC (collateral financing arrangement ) (1)	$	—	$	3,422
CSEs: (2)
Assets:
Mortgage loans (commercial mortgage loans)	115		136
Accrued investment income	1		1
Total assets	$	116	$	137
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	$	11	$	23
Other liabilities	—		1
Total liabilities	$	11	$	24

______________


(1)	In April 2017, these assets were liquidated and the proceeds were used to repay the MRSC collateral financing arrangement (see Note 3).

(2)

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]

Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]

Variable Interest Entities



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)		Carrying Amount		Maximum Exposure to Loss (1)
	(In millions)
Fixed maturity securities AFS:
Structured Securities (2)	$	11,136	$	11,136	$	12,809	$	12,809
U.S. and foreign corporate	501		501		536		536
Other limited partnership interests	1,509		2,460		1,491		2,287
Real estate joint ventures	24		27		17		22
Other investments (3)	47		52		60		66
Total	$	13,217	$	14,176	$	14,913	$	15,720

______________

(1)


(2)	For these variable interests, the Company’s involvement is limited to that of a passive investor in mortgage-backed or asset-backed securities issued by trusts that do not have substantial equity.


(3)	Other investments are comprised of other invested assets and non-redeemable preferred stock.

Commercial

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of commercial mortgage loans was as follows at:



	Recorded Investment										Estimated Fair Value		% of Total
	Debt Service Coverage Ratios						Total		% of Total
	> 1.20x		1.00x - 1.20x		< 1.00x		Total		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
December 31, 2017
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	6,167	$	293	$	33	$	6,493	89.7	%	$	6,654	90.0	%
65% to 75%	642		—		14		656		9.1		658		8.9
76% to 80%	42		—		9		51		0.7		50		0.7
Greater than 80%	—		9		24		33		0.5		30		0.4
Total	$	6,851	$	302	$	80	$	7,233	100.0	%	$	7,392	100.0	%
December 31, 2016
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	5,718	$	230	$	167	$	6,115	94.1	%	$	6,197	94.3	%
65% to 75%	291		—		19		310		4.8		303		4.6
76% to 80%	34		—		—		34		0.5		33		0.5
Greater than 80%	24		14		—		38		0.6		37		0.6
Total	$	6,067	$	244	$	186	$	6,497	100.0	%	$	6,570	100.0	%

Agricultural

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of agricultural mortgage loans was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Loan-to-value ratios:
Less than 65%	$	2,039	92.7	%	$	1,789	97.8	%
65% to 75%	161		7.3		41		2.2
Total	$	2,200	100.0	%	$	1,830	100.0	%

Residential

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]

Disclosure of the mortgage loans portfolio segment by the recorded investment, prior to valuation allowances, by credit quality indicator categories

The credit quality of residential mortgage loans was as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017				2016
	Recorded Investment		% of Total		Recorded Investment		% of Total
	(Dollars in millions)
Performance indicators:
Performing	$	1,106	97.2	%	$	856	98.7	%
Nonperforming	32		2.8		11		1.3
Total	$	1,138	100.0	%	$	867	100.0	%

Derivatives (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Derivatives Instruments Statements of Financial Performance and Financial Position, Location

The following table presents the primary underlying risk exposure, gross notional amount, and estimated fair value of the Company’s derivatives, excluding embedded derivatives, held at:



	Primary Underlying Risk Exposure	December 31,
		2017						2016
				Estimated Fair Value						Estimated Fair Value
		Gross Notional Amount		Assets		Liabilities		Gross Notional Amount		Assets		Liabilities
		(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Fair value hedges:
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	$	175	$	44	$	—	$	310	$	41	$	—
Cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	27		5		—		45		7		—
Foreign currency swaps	Foreign currency exchange rate	1,762		86		75		1,420		186		10
Subtotal		1,789		91		75		1,465		193		10
Total qualifying hedges		1,964		135		75		1,775		234		10
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swaps	Interest rate	20,213		922		774		28,175		1,928		1,688
Interest rate floors	Interest rate	—		—		—		2,100		5		2
Interest rate caps	Interest rate	2,671		7		—		12,042		25		—
Interest rate futures	Interest rate	282		1		—		1,288		9		—
Interest rate options	Interest rate	24,600		133		63		15,520		136		—
Interest rate total return swaps	Interest rate	—		—		—		3,876		—		611
Foreign currency swaps	Foreign currency exchange rate	1,103		69		41		1,250		153		4
Foreign currency forwards	Foreign currency exchange rate	130		—		2		158		9		—
Credit default swaps — purchased	Credit	65		—		1		34		—		—
Credit default swaps — written	Credit	1,878		40		—		1,891		28		—
Equity futures	Equity market	2,713		15		—		8,037		38		—
Equity index options	Equity market	47,066		794		1,664		37,501		897		934
Equity variance swaps	Equity market	8,998		128		430		14,894		140		517
Equity total return swaps	Equity market	1,767		—		79		2,855		1		117
Total non-designated or nonqualifying derivatives		111,486		2,109		3,054		129,621		3,369		3,873
Total		$	113,450	$	2,244	$	3,129	$	131,396	$	3,603	$	3,883

Earned Income On Derivatives And Income Statement Location

The following table presents earned income on derivatives:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Qualifying hedges:
Net investment income	$	21	$	19	$	11
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	—		—		(2		)
Nonqualifying hedges:
Net derivative gains (losses)	314		460		361
Policyholder benefits and claims	8		16		14
Total	$	343	$	495	$	384

Schedule of estimated fair value, maximum amount of future payments and weighted average years to maturity of written credit default swaps

The following table presents the estimated fair value, maximum amount of future payments and weighted average years to maturity of written credit default swaps at:



	December 31,
	2017					2016
Rating Agency Designation of Referenced Credit Obligations (1)	Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps		Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps		Weighted Average Years to Maturity (2)	Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps		Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps		Weighted Average Years to Maturity (2)
	(Dollars in millions)
Aaa/Aa/A	$	12	$	558	2.8	$	9	478		3.6
Baa	28		1,295		4.7	19		1,393		4.4
Ba	—		25		4.5	—		20		2.7
Total	$	40	$	1,878	4.1	$	28	$	1,891	4.2

______________

(1)


(2)	The weighted average years to maturity of the credit default swaps is calculated based on weighted average gross notional amounts.

Estimated Fair Value of Derivative Assets and Liabilities after Master Netting Agreements and Cash Collateral

The estimated fair values of the Company’s net derivative assets and net derivative liabilities after the application of master netting agreements and collateral were as follows at:



	December 31,
	2017						2016
Derivatives Subject to a Master Netting Arrangement or a Similar Arrangement	Assets			Liabilities			Assets			Liabilities
	(In millions)
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives:
OTC-bilateral (1)	$	2,222		$	3,080		$	3,394		$	2,929
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded (1) (6)	69			40			313			905
Total gross estimated fair value of derivatives (1)	2,291			3,120			3,707			3,834
Amounts offset on the consolidated balance sheets	—			—			—			—
Estimated fair value of derivatives presented on the consolidated balance sheets (1) (6)	2,291			3,120			3,707			3,834
Gross amounts not offset on the consolidated balance sheets:
Gross estimated fair value of derivatives: (2)
OTC-bilateral	(1,942		)	(1,942		)	(2,231		)	(2,231		)
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	(1		)	(1		)	(165		)	(165		)
Cash collateral: (3), (4)
OTC-bilateral	(247		)	—			(634		)	—
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	(27		)	(39		)	(91		)	(740		)
Securities collateral: (5)
OTC-bilateral	(31		)	(1,138		)	(429		)	(698		)
OTC-cleared and Exchange-traded	—			—			—			—
Net amount after application of master netting agreements and collateral	$	43		$	—		$	157		$	—

______________


(1)	At December 31, 2017 and 2016, derivative assets included income or (expense) accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of $47 million and $104 million, respectively, and derivative liabilities included (income) or expense accruals reported in accrued investment income or in other liabilities of ($9) million and ($49) million, respectively.


(2)	Estimated fair value of derivatives is limited to the amount that is subject to set-off and includes income or expense accruals.


(3)	Cash collateral received by the Company for OTC-bilateral and OTC-cleared derivatives is included in cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments or in fixed maturity securities, and the obligation to return it is included in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions on the balance sheet.

(4)

(5)


(6)	Effective January 3, 2017, the CME amended its rulebook, resulting in the characterization of variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. See Note 1 for further information on the CME amendments.

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]

Derivatives, Methods of Accounting, Derivatives Not Designated or Qualifying as Hedges [Policy Text Block]

The following tables present the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized for derivatives and gains (losses) pertaining to hedged items presented in net derivative gains (losses):



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	2		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	2			(2		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	—			—			6			—			1
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	8			(9		)	—			—			(153		)
Total cash flow hedges	8			(9		)	6			—			(152		)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(325		)	—			—			8			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	(98		)	(32		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	21			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(2,584		)	—			(1		)	(341		)	—
Embedded derivatives	1,237			—			—			(16		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(1,749		)	(32		)	(1		)	(349		)	—
Total	$	(1,739	)	$	(43	)	$	5		$	(349	)	$	(152	)



	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	1		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	1			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	35			—			5			—			28
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	3			(2		)	—			—			42
Total cash flow hedges	38			(2		)	5			—			70
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(2,873		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	76			(14		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	10			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(1,724		)	—			(6		)	(320		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(1,741		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(6,252		)	(14		)	(6		)	(328		)	—
Total	$	(6,213	)	$	(17	)	$	(1	)	$	(328	)	$	70



	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	3		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	3			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	3			—			3			—			16
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	—			1			—			—			79
Total cash flow hedges	3			1			3			—			95
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(67		)	—			—			5			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	44			(7		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	(14		)	—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(476		)	—			(4		)	(25		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(344		)	—			—			21			—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(857		)	(7		)	(4		)	1			—
Total	$	(851	)	$	(7	)	$	(1	)	$	1		$	95

______________


(1)	Includes gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges. Ineffective portion of the gains (losses) recognized in income is not significant.


(2)	Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships. Hedged items in fair value hedging relationship includes fixed rate liabilities reported in policyholder account balances or future policy benefits and fixed maturity securities.


(3)	Includes changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures and gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges.


(4)	Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.


(5)	All components of each derivative's gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Components of Net Derivatives Gains (Losses)

The following tables present the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized for derivatives and gains (losses) pertaining to hedged items presented in net derivative gains (losses):



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	2		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	2			(2		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	—			—			6			—			1
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	8			(9		)	—			—			(153		)
Total cash flow hedges	8			(9		)	6			—			(152		)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(325		)	—			—			8			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	(98		)	(32		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	21			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(2,584		)	—			(1		)	(341		)	—
Embedded derivatives	1,237			—			—			(16		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(1,749		)	(32		)	(1		)	(349		)	—
Total	$	(1,739	)	$	(43	)	$	5		$	(349	)	$	(152	)



	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	1		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	1			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	35			—			5			—			28
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	3			(2		)	—			—			42
Total cash flow hedges	38			(2		)	5			—			70
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(2,873		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	76			(14		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	10			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(1,724		)	—			(6		)	(320		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(1,741		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(6,252		)	(14		)	(6		)	(328		)	—
Total	$	(6,213	)	$	(17	)	$	(1	)	$	(328	)	$	70



	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	3		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	3			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	3			—			3			—			16
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	—			1			—			—			79
Total cash flow hedges	3			1			3			—			95
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(67		)	—			—			5			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	44			(7		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	(14		)	—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(476		)	—			(4		)	(25		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(344		)	—			—			21			—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(857		)	(7		)	(4		)	1			—
Total	$	(851	)	$	(7	)	$	(1	)	$	1		$	95

______________


(1)	Includes gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges. Ineffective portion of the gains (losses) recognized in income is not significant.


(2)	Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships. Hedged items in fair value hedging relationship includes fixed rate liabilities reported in policyholder account balances or future policy benefits and fixed maturity securities.


(3)	Includes changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures and gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges.


(4)	Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.


(5)	All components of each derivative's gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Schedule of Derivative Instruments



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Estimated fair value of derivatives in a net liability position (1)	$	1,138	$	698
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided:
Fixed maturity securities	$	1,414	$	777

______________


(1)	After taking into consideration the existence of netting agreements.

Schedule of Cash Flow Hedges Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

The following tables present the amount and location of gains (losses) recognized for derivatives and gains (losses) pertaining to hedged items presented in net derivative gains (losses):



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	2		$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	2			(2		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	—			—			6			—			1
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	8			(9		)	—			—			(153		)
Total cash flow hedges	8			(9		)	6			—			(152		)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(325		)	—			—			8			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	(98		)	(32		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	21			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(2,584		)	—			(1		)	(341		)	—
Embedded derivatives	1,237			—			—			(16		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(1,749		)	(32		)	(1		)	(349		)	—
Total	$	(1,739	)	$	(43	)	$	5		$	(349	)	$	(152	)



	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	1		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	1			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	35			—			5			—			28
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	3			(2		)	—			—			42
Total cash flow hedges	38			(2		)	5			—			70
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(2,873		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	76			(14		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	10			—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(1,724		)	—			(6		)	(320		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(1,741		)	—			—			(4		)	—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(6,252		)	(14		)	(6		)	(328		)	—
Total	$	(6,213	)	$	(17	)	$	(1	)	$	(328	)	$	70



	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives (1)			Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items (2)			Net Investment Income (3)			Policyholder Benefits and Claims (4)			Amount of Gains (Losses) deferred in AOCI
	(In millions)
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:
Fair value hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	$	3		$	(1	)	$	—		$	—		$	—
Total fair value hedges	3			(1		)	—			—			—
Cash flow hedges (5):
Interest rate derivatives	3			—			3			—			16
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	—			1			—			—			79
Total cash flow hedges	3			1			3			—			95
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments:
Interest rate derivatives	(67		)	—			—			5			—
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives	44			(7		)	—			—			—
Credit derivatives	(14		)	—			—			—			—
Equity derivatives	(476		)	—			(4		)	(25		)	—
Embedded derivatives	(344		)	—			—			21			—
Total non-qualifying hedges	(857		)	(7		)	(4		)	1			—
Total	$	(851	)	$	(7	)	$	(1	)	$	1		$	95

______________


(1)	Includes gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges. Ineffective portion of the gains (losses) recognized in income is not significant.


(2)	Includes foreign currency transaction gains (losses) on hedged items in cash flow and nonqualifying hedging relationships. Hedged items in fair value hedging relationship includes fixed rate liabilities reported in policyholder account balances or future policy benefits and fixed maturity securities.


(3)	Includes changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of equity method investments in joint ventures and gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI for cash flow hedges.


(4)	Changes in estimated fair value related to economic hedges of variable annuity guarantees included in future policy benefits.


(5)	All components of each derivative's gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member]

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]

Components of Net Derivatives Gains (Losses)

The following table presents changes in estimated fair value related to embedded derivatives:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net derivative gains (losses) (1), (2)	$	1,237		$	(1,741	)	$	(344	)
Policyholder benefits and claims	$	(16	)	$	(4	)	$	21

______________


(1)	The valuation of direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits includes a nonperformance risk adjustment. The amounts included in net derivative gains (losses) in connection with this adjustment were $337 million, $244 million and $26 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


(2)	See Note 6 for discussion of related party net derivative gains (losses).

Schedule of Derivative Instruments

The following table presents the estimated fair value and balance sheet location of the Company’s embedded derivatives that have been separated from their host contracts at:



		December 31,
	Balance Sheet Location	2017			2016
		(In millions)
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts:
Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits	Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	227		$	409
Options embedded in debt or equity securities	Investments	(52		)	(49		)
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts		$	175		$	360
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts:
Direct guaranteed minimum benefits	Policyholder account balances	$	1,122		$	2,237
Assumed reinsurance on fixed deferred annuities	Policyholder account balances	1			—
Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits	Policyholder account balances	437			741
Fixed annuities with equity indexed returns	Policyholder account balances	674			192
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts		$	2,234		$	3,170

Fair Value (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Inputs, Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Table Text Block]



					December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016				Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
	Valuation Techniques		Significant Unobservable Inputs		Range			Weighted Average (1)	Range			Weighted Average (1)	Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
Fixed maturity securities (3)
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate	•	Matrix pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	93	-	142	110	18	-	138	104	Increase
	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	—	-	443	76	13	-	700	99	Increase
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)					37	-	109	85	Increase
RMBS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	3	-	107	94	38	-	111	91	Increase (5)
ABS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	100	-	104	101	94	-	106	100	Increase (5)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	100	-	100	100	98	-	100	99	Increase (5)
Derivatives
Interest rate	•	Present value techniques	•	Repurchase rates (7)	—	-	—		(44)		18		Decrease (6)
Credit	•	Present value techniques	•	Credit spreads (8)	—	-	—		97	-	98		Decrease (6)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (9)
Equity market	•	Present value techniques or option pricing models	•	Volatility (10)	11%	-	31%		14%	-	32%		Increase (6)
			•	Correlation (11)	10%	-	30%		40%	-	40%
Embedded derivatives
Direct, assumed and ceded guaranteed minimum benefits	•	Option pricing techniques	•	Mortality rates:
				Ages 0 - 40	0%	-	0.09%		0%	-	0.09%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 41 - 60	0.04%	-	0.65%		0.04%	-	0.65%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 61 - 115	0.26%	-	100%		0.26%	-	100%		Decrease (12)
			•	Lapse rates:
				Durations 1 - 10	0.25%	-	100%		0.25%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 11 - 20	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 21 - 116	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
			•	Utilization rates	0%	-	25%		0%	-	25%		Increase (14)
			•	Withdrawal rates	0.25%	-	10%		0.25%	-	10%		(15)
			•	Long-term equity volatilities	17.40%	-	25%		17.40%	-	25%		Increase (16)
			•	Nonperformance risk spread	0.64%	-	1.43%		0.04%	-	0.57%		Decrease (17)

______________


(1)	The weighted average for fixed maturity securities is determined based on the estimated fair value of the securities.


(2)	The impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact on estimated fair value. For embedded derivatives, changes to direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits are based on liability positions; changes to ceded guaranteed minimum benefits are based on asset positions.


(3)	Significant increases (decreases) in expected default rates in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations.


(4)	Range and weighted average are presented in accordance with the market convention for fixed maturity securities of dollars per hundred dollars of par.


(5)	Changes in the assumptions used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumptions used for prepayment rates.


(6)	Changes in estimated fair value are based on long U.S. dollar net asset positions and will be inversely impacted for short U.S. dollar net asset positions.


(7)	Ranges represent different repurchase rates utilized as components within the valuation methodology and are presented in basis points.


(8)	Represents the risk quoted in basis points of a credit default event on the underlying instrument. Credit derivatives with significant unobservable inputs are primarily comprised of written credit default swaps.


(9)	At December 31, 2017 and 2016, independent non-binding broker quotations were used in the determination of 1% and 3% of the total net derivative estimated fair value, respectively.


(10)	Ranges represent the underlying equity volatility quoted in percentage points. Since this valuation methodology uses a range of inputs across multiple volatility surfaces to value the derivative, presenting a range is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation.


(11)	Ranges represent the different correlation factors utilized as components within the valuation methodology. Presenting a range of correlation factors is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation. Increases (decreases) in correlation in isolation will increase (decrease) the significance of the change in valuations.


(12)	Mortality rates vary by age and by demographic characteristics such as gender. Mortality rate assumptions are based on company experience. A mortality improvement assumption is also applied. For any given contract, mortality rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

(13)

(14)

(15)


(16)	Long-term equity volatilities represent equity volatility beyond the period for which observable equity volatilities are available. For any given contract, long-term equity volatility rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.


(17)	Nonperformance risk spread varies by duration and by currency. For any given contract, multiple nonperformance risk spreads will apply, depending on the duration of the cash flow being discounted for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements



	December 31, 2017
	Fair Value Hierarchy
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	—	$	21,491	$	889	$	22,380
U.S. government and agency	8,002		7,911		—		15,913
RMBS	—		6,836		981		7,817
Foreign corporate	—		5,723		1,048		6,771
State and political subdivision	—		4,098		—		4,098
CMBS	—		3,155		136		3,291
ABS	—		1,691		105		1,796
Foreign government	—		1,262		5		1,267
Total fixed maturity securities	8,002		52,167		3,164		63,333
Equity securities	18		90		124		232
Short-term investments	135		120		14		269
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	—		115		—		115
Derivative assets: (1)
Interest rate	1		1,111		—		1,112
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		155		—		155
Credit	—		30		10		40
Equity market	15		773		149		937
Total derivative assets	16		2,069		159		2,244
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (2)	—		—		227		227
Separate account assets	410		109,741		5		110,156
Total assets	$	8,581	$	164,302	$	3,693	$	176,576
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities: (1)
Interest rate	$	—	$	837	$	—	$	837
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		117		1		118
Credit	—		1		—		1
Equity market	—		1,736		437		2,173
Total derivative liabilities	—		2,691		438		3,129
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (2)	—		—		2,234		2,234
Long-term debt of CSEs — FVO	—		11		—		11
Total liabilities	$	—	$	2,702	$	2,672	$	5,374



	December 31, 2016
	Fair Value Hierarchy						Total Estimated Fair Value
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. corporate	$	—	$	20,221	$	1,444	$	21,665
U.S. government and agency	6,110		6,806		—		12,916
RMBS	—		6,627		1,313		7,940
Foreign corporate	—		5,257		866		6,123
State and political subdivision	—		3,841		17		3,858
CMBS	—		3,529		167		3,696
ABS	—		2,383		215		2,598
Foreign government	—		1,103		—		1,103
Total fixed maturity securities	6,110		49,767		4,022		59,899
Equity securities	39		124		137		300
Short-term investments	702		568		2		1,272
Commercial mortgage loans held by CSEs — FVO	—		136		—		136
Derivative assets: (1)
Interest rate	9		2,142		—		2,151
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		348		—		348
Credit	—		20		8		28
Equity market	37		860		179		1,076
Total derivative assets	46		3,370		187		3,603
Embedded derivatives within asset host contracts (2)	—		—		409		409
Separate account assets	720		104,616		10		105,346
Total assets	$	7,617	$	158,581	$	4,767	$	170,965
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities: (1)
Interest rate	$	—	$	1,690	$	611	$	2,301
Foreign currency exchange rate	—		14		—		14
Equity market	—		1,038		530		1,568
Total derivative liabilities	—		2,742		1,141		3,883
Embedded derivatives within liability host contracts (2)	—		—		3,170		3,170
Long-term debt of CSEs — FVO	—		23		—		23
Total liabilities	$	—	$	2,765	$	4,311	$	7,076

______________

(1)

(2)

Fair Value Inputs, Quantitative Information



					December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016				Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
	Valuation Techniques		Significant Unobservable Inputs		Range			Weighted Average (1)	Range			Weighted Average (1)	Impact of Increase in Input on Estimated Fair Value (2)
Fixed maturity securities (3)
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate	•	Matrix pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	93	-	142	110	18	-	138	104	Increase
	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	—	-	443	76	13	-	700	99	Increase
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)					37	-	109	85	Increase
RMBS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	3	-	107	94	38	-	111	91	Increase (5)
ABS	•	Market pricing	•	Quoted prices (4)	100	-	104	101	94	-	106	100	Increase (5)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (4)	100	-	100	100	98	-	100	99	Increase (5)
Derivatives
Interest rate	•	Present value techniques	•	Repurchase rates (7)	—	-	—		(44)		18		Decrease (6)
Credit	•	Present value techniques	•	Credit spreads (8)	—	-	—		97	-	98		Decrease (6)
	•	Consensus pricing	•	Offered quotes (9)
Equity market	•	Present value techniques or option pricing models	•	Volatility (10)	11%	-	31%		14%	-	32%		Increase (6)
			•	Correlation (11)	10%	-	30%		40%	-	40%
Embedded derivatives
Direct, assumed and ceded guaranteed minimum benefits	•	Option pricing techniques	•	Mortality rates:
				Ages 0 - 40	0%	-	0.09%		0%	-	0.09%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 41 - 60	0.04%	-	0.65%		0.04%	-	0.65%		Decrease (12)
				Ages 61 - 115	0.26%	-	100%		0.26%	-	100%		Decrease (12)
			•	Lapse rates:
				Durations 1 - 10	0.25%	-	100%		0.25%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 11 - 20	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
				Durations 21 - 116	2%	-	100%		2%	-	100%		Decrease (13)
			•	Utilization rates	0%	-	25%		0%	-	25%		Increase (14)
			•	Withdrawal rates	0.25%	-	10%		0.25%	-	10%		(15)
			•	Long-term equity volatilities	17.40%	-	25%		17.40%	-	25%		Increase (16)
			•	Nonperformance risk spread	0.64%	-	1.43%		0.04%	-	0.57%		Decrease (17)

______________


(1)	The weighted average for fixed maturity securities is determined based on the estimated fair value of the securities.


(2)	The impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact on estimated fair value. For embedded derivatives, changes to direct and assumed guaranteed minimum benefits are based on liability positions; changes to ceded guaranteed minimum benefits are based on asset positions.


(3)	Significant increases (decreases) in expected default rates in isolation would result in substantially lower (higher) valuations.


(4)	Range and weighted average are presented in accordance with the market convention for fixed maturity securities of dollars per hundred dollars of par.


(5)	Changes in the assumptions used for the probability of default is accompanied by a directionally similar change in the assumption used for the loss severity and a directionally opposite change in the assumptions used for prepayment rates.


(6)	Changes in estimated fair value are based on long U.S. dollar net asset positions and will be inversely impacted for short U.S. dollar net asset positions.


(7)	Ranges represent different repurchase rates utilized as components within the valuation methodology and are presented in basis points.


(8)	Represents the risk quoted in basis points of a credit default event on the underlying instrument. Credit derivatives with significant unobservable inputs are primarily comprised of written credit default swaps.


(9)	At December 31, 2017 and 2016, independent non-binding broker quotations were used in the determination of 1% and 3% of the total net derivative estimated fair value, respectively.


(10)	Ranges represent the underlying equity volatility quoted in percentage points. Since this valuation methodology uses a range of inputs across multiple volatility surfaces to value the derivative, presenting a range is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation.


(11)	Ranges represent the different correlation factors utilized as components within the valuation methodology. Presenting a range of correlation factors is more representative of the unobservable input used in the valuation. Increases (decreases) in correlation in isolation will increase (decrease) the significance of the change in valuations.


(12)	Mortality rates vary by age and by demographic characteristics such as gender. Mortality rate assumptions are based on company experience. A mortality improvement assumption is also applied. For any given contract, mortality rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

(13)

(14)

(15)


(16)	Long-term equity volatilities represent equity volatility beyond the period for which observable equity volatilities are available. For any given contract, long-term equity volatility rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.


(17)	Nonperformance risk spread varies by duration and by currency. For any given contract, multiple nonperformance risk spreads will apply, depending on the duration of the cash flow being discounted for purposes of valuing the embedded derivative.

Fair Value, Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation

The following tables summarize the change of all assets and (liabilities) measured at estimated fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):



	Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	Fixed Maturity Securities
	Corporate (1)			Structured Securities			State and Political Subdivision			Foreign Government			Equity Securities			Short Term Investments			Net Derivatives (2)			Net Embedded Derivatives (3)			Separate Account Assets (4)
	(In millions)
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	2,410		$	1,996		$	13		$	27		$	97		$	47		$	(232	)	$	(442	)	$	146
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	(11		)	30			—			—			—			—			(703		)	(1,760		)	—
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	(24		)	21			—			—			(11		)	—			4			—			—
Purchases (7)	584			600			—			—			—			3			10			—			2
Sales (7)	(443		)	(598		)	—			—			(26		)	(1		)	—			—			(134		)
Issuances (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			(33		)	(559		)	—
Transfers into Level 3 (8)	119			12			9			—			131			—			—			—			—
Transfers out of Level 3 (8)	(325		)	(366		)	(5		)	(27		)	(54		)	(47		)	—			—			(4		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	2,310		$	1,695		$	17		$	—		$	137		$	2		$	(954	)	$	(2,761	)	$	10
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	(3		)	28			—			—			(3		)	—			92			1,233			—
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	127			52			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Purchases (7)	442			106			—			5			3			14			4			—			2
Sales (7)	(222		)	(526		)	—			—			(13		)	(1		)	—			—			(4		)
Issuances (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Settlements (7)	—			—			—			—			—			—			579			(479		)	(1		)
Transfers into Level 3 (8)	178			11			—			—			—			—			—			—			2
Transfers out of Level 3 (8)	(895		)	(144		)	(17		)	—			—			(1		)	—			—			(4		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	1,937		$	1,222		$	—		$	5		$	124		$	14		$	(279	)	$	(2,007	)	$	5
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2015 (9)	$	11		$	21		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(64	)	$	(310	)	$	—
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2016 (9)	$	2		$	28		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(687	)	$	(1,772	)	$	—
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at December 31, 2017 (9)	$	1		$	23		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	(52	)	$	1,300		$	—
Gains (Losses) Data for the year ended December 31, 2015
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) (5) (6)	$	16		$	21		$	—		$	—		$	11		$	—		$	(74	)	$	(303	)	$	(6	)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	$	(120	)	$	(14	)	$	—		$	(2	)	$	(10	)	$	—		$	2		$	—		$	—

____________


(1)	Comprised of U.S. and foreign corporate securities.


(2)	Freestanding derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.


(3)	Embedded derivative assets and liabilities are presented net for purposes of the rollforward.


(4)	Investment performance related to separate account assets is fully offset by corresponding amounts credited to contract holders within separate account liabilities. Therefore, such changes in estimated fair value are not recorded in net income (loss). For the purpose of this disclosure, these changes are presented within net investment gains (losses).

(5)


(6)	Interest and dividend accruals, as well as cash interest coupons and dividends received, are excluded from the rollforward.


(7)	Items purchased/issued and then sold/settled in the same period are excluded from the rollforward. Fees attributed to embedded derivatives are included in settlements.


(8)	Gains and losses, in net income (loss) and OCI, are calculated assuming transfers into and/or out of Level 3 occurred at the beginning of the period. Items transferred into and then out of Level 3 in the same period are excluded from the rollforward.


(9)	Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) relate to assets and liabilities still held at the end of the respective periods. Substantially all changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for net derivatives and net embedded derivatives are reported in net derivative gains (losses).

Fair Value Option

The following table presents information for certain assets and liabilities of CSEs, which are accounted for under the FVO. These assets and liabilities were initially measured at fair value.



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Assets (1)
Unpaid principal balance	$	70	$	88
Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance	45		48
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$	115	$	136
Liabilities (1)
Contractual principal balance	$	10	$	22
Difference between estimated fair value and contractual principal balance	1		1
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$	11	$	23

______________

(1)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments Carried at Other Than Fair Value

The carrying values and estimated fair values for such financial instruments, and their corresponding placement in the fair value hierarchy, are summarized as follows at:



	December 31, 2017
			Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Mortgage loans	$	10,525	$	—	$	—	$	10,768	$	10,768
Policy loans	$	1,106	$	—	$	746	$	439	$	1,185
Real estate joint ventures	$	5	$	—	$	—	$	22	$	22
Other limited partnership interests	$	36	$	—	$	—	$	28	$	28
Loans to MetLife, Inc.	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	1,556	$	—	$	126	$	1,783	$	1,909
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	15,626	$	—	$	—	$	15,760	$	15,760
Long-term debt	$	35	$	—	$	42	$	—	$	42
Other liabilities	$	459	$	—	$	93	$	368	$	461
Separate account liabilities	$	1,206	$	—	$	1,206	$	—	$	1,206



	December 31, 2016
			Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total Estimated Fair Value
	(In millions)
Assets
Mortgage loans	$	9,154	$	—	$	—	$	9,298	$	9,298
Policy loans	$	1,093	$	—	$	746	$	431	$	1,177
Real estate joint ventures	$	12	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	44
Other limited partnership interests	$	44	$	—	$	—	$	42	$	42
Loans to MetLife, Inc.	$	1,100	$	—	$	1,090	$	—	$	1,090
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$	2,363	$	—	$	834	$	1,981	$	2,815
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	$	16,043	$	—	$	—	$	17,259	$	17,259
Long-term debt	$	1,881	$	—	$	2,117	$	—	$	2,117
Other liabilities	$	256	$	—	$	90	$	166	$	256
Separate account liabilities	$	1,110	$	—	$	1,110	$	—	$	1,110

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the application of the fair value option for measurement and reporting of eligible financial assets and liabilities (as defined), as well as certain other eligible items (as defined) included in the statement of financial position, whether such option is elected for a single eligible item or a group of similar eligible items and is in addition to other disclosures concerning fair value which the company may be required to provide. Such disclosure might be expected to include: (1) for items included in the statement of financial position: (a) for each line item in the statement of financial position that includes an item or items for which the fair value option has been elected, provide the aggregate carrying amount of ineligible items included in each line item in the balance sheet, if any; (b) the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance (assuming contractual principal amounts and fair value option elected) of: (i) loans and long-term receivables (other than securities otherwise reported at fair value) and (ii) long-term debt instruments; (c) for loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected: (i) the aggregate fair value of loans that are 90 days or more past due, (ii) if the policy is to recognize interest income separately from other changes in fair value, the aggregate fair value of loans in nonaccrual status, and (iii) the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance for loans that are 90 days or more past due, in nonaccrual status, or both; (2) for items included in the income statement: (a) the amounts of gains and losses from fair value changes included in earnings and in which line in the income statement those gains and losses are reported whether or not combined with gains and losses from items required to be accounted for at fair value; (b) for loans and other receivables held as assets, the estimated amount of gains or losses included in earnings attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk; (c) for liabilities with fair values that have been significantly affected during the reporting period by changes in the instrument-specific credit risk, the estimated amount of gains and losses from fair value changes included in earnings that are attributable to changes in the instrument-specific credit risk; and (3) certain other disclosures as required or determined to be provided.

+ References + Details

Long-term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-term Debt

Long-term debt outstanding was as follows:



	Interest Rate	Maturity	December 31,
	Interest Rate	Maturity	2017		2016
			(In millions)
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc. (1)	8.595%	2038	$	—	$	744
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc.	5.130%	2032	—		750
Surplus note — affiliated with MetLife, Inc.	6.000%	2033	—		350
Long-term debt — unaffiliated (2)	7.028%	2030	35		37
Total long-term debt (3)			$	35	$	1,881

______________


(1)	Includes $6 million of unamortized debt issuance costs at December 31, 2016.


(2)	Represents non-recourse debt for which creditors have no access, subject to customary exceptions, to the general assets of the Company other than recourse to certain investment companies.


(3)	Excludes $11 million and $23 million of long-term debt related to CSEs at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. See Note 7 for more information regarding CSEs.

Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Dividend Payment Restrictions [Table Text Block]

The table below sets forth the dividends permitted to be paid by the Company’s insurance companies without insurance regulatory approval and dividends paid:



	2018		2017		2016
Company	Permitted Without Approval (1)		Paid (2)		Paid (2)
	(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	$	84	$	—	$	261
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	$	21	$	—	$	—

______________


(1)	Reflects dividend amounts that may be paid during 2018 without prior regulatory approval. However, because dividend tests may be based on dividends previously paid over rolling 12-month periods, if paid before a specified date during 2018, some or all of such dividends may require regulatory approval.


(2)	Reflects all amounts paid, including those requiring regulatory approval.

Schedules of statutory net income, capital and surplus and reserve strengthening by subsidiary

Statutory capital and surplus was as follows at:



	December 31,
Company	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	$	5,594	$	4,374
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	$	294	$	196

Statutory net income (loss) was as follows:



		Years Ended December 31,
Company	State of Domicile	2017			2016			2015
		(In millions)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company	Delaware	$	(425	)	$	1,186		$	(1,022	)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company of NY	New York	$	22		$	(87	)	$	17

Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Information regarding changes in the balances of each component of AOCI was as follows:



	Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets (1)			Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Total
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	2,445		$	183		$	(6	)	$	2,622
OCI before reclassifications	(1,759		)	95			(29		)	(1,693		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	643			(33		)	9			619
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,329			245			(26		)	1,548
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	78			(6		)	—			72
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(28		)	2			—			(26		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	50			(4		)	—			46
Balance at December 31, 2015	1,379			241			(26		)	1,594
OCI before reclassifications	(565		)	70			(3		)	(498		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	185			(25		)	—			160
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	999			286			(29		)	1,256
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	30			(43		)	—			(13		)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(10		)	15			—			5
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	20			(28		)	—			(8		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	1,019			258			(29		)	1,248
OCI before reclassifications	529			(152		)	9			386
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(206		)	54			(3		)	(155		)
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,342			160			(23		)	1,479
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	61			(14		)	—			47
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	306			5			—			311
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	367			(9		)	—			358
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,709		$	151		$	(23	)	$	1,837

__________________


(1)	See Note 7 for information on offsets to investments related to future policy benefits, DAC, VOBA and DSI.


(2)	Includes the $330 million impact of the Tax Act related to unrealized investments gains (losses), net of related offsets. See Note 1 for more information.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Information regarding amounts reclassified out of each component of AOCI was as follows:



AOCI Components	Amounts Reclassified from AOCI									Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) Locations
	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Net unrealized investment gains(losses)	$	(15	)	$	(39	)	$	(81	)	Net investment gains (losses)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	1			3			13			Net investment income
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	(47		)	6			(10		)	Net derivative gains (losses)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), before income tax	(61		)	(30		)	(78		)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(306		)	10			28
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of income tax	$	(367	)	$	(20	)	$	(50	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives - cash flow hedges:
Interest rate swaps	$	—		$	33		$	1		Net derivative gains (losses)
Interest rate swaps	3			3			1			Net investment income
Interest rate forwards	—			2			2			Net derivative gains (losses)
Interest rate forwards	3			2			2			Net investment income
Foreign currency swaps	8			3			—			Net derivative gains (losses)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, before income tax	14			43			6
Income tax (expense) benefit	(5		)	(15		)	(2		)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of income tax	$	9		$	28		$	4
Total reclassifications, net of income tax	$	(358	)	$	8		$	(46	)

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of how the entity's reporting under GAAP as of the balance sheet date differs from the results based on prescribed and permitted accounting practices of the state or country of domicile in which a relevant statutory filing is made, or differences in results based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) prescribed practices, or a combination thereof. Describes the accounting practices used and the related monetary effect on statutory surplus, net income, and risk-based capital. If an insurance enterprise's risk-based capital would have triggered a regulatory event had it not used a permitted practice, that fact is disclosed in the financial statements. Permitted statutory accounting practices include practices not prescribed but allowed by the domiciliary state insurance department regulatory authority.

+ References + Details

Other Expenses (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other Expenses

Information on other expenses was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Compensation	$	263		$	356		$	487
Commissions	741			641			722
Volume-related costs	175			279			231
Related party expenses on ceded and assumed reinsurance	—			22			17
Capitalization of DAC	(256		)	(330		)	(399		)
Interest expense on debt	56			130			137
Goodwill impairment (1)	—			381			—
Premium taxes, licenses and fees	58			59			71
Professional services	239			85			22
Rent and related expenses	12			46			54
Other	545			412			381
Total other expenses	$	1,833		$	2,081		$	1,723

__________________


(1)	Based on a quantitative analysis performed for the Run-off reporting unit, it was determined that the goodwill associated with this reporting unit was not recoverable and resulted in the impairment of the entire goodwill balance.

Income Tax (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Provision for income tax from continuing operations

The provision for income tax was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Current:
Federal	$	368		$	(374	)	$	35
Foreign	18			4			—
Subtotal	386			(370		)	35
Deferred:
Federal	(1,124		)	(1,320		)	212
Foreign	—			—			—
Subtotal	(1,124		)	(1,320		)	212
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	(738	)	$	(1,690	)	$	247

Income tax for continuing operations effective rate reconciliation

The reconciliation of the income tax provision at the U.S. statutory rate to the provision for income tax as reported was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate	$	(567	)	$	(1,563	)	$	408
Tax effect of:
Dividend received deduction	(116		)	(110		)	(132		)
Excess loss account - Separation from MetLife (1)	1,088			—			—
Rate revaluation due to tax reform (2)	(696		)	—			—
Prior year tax	(4		)	24			(5		)
Tax credits	(29		)	(22		)	(16		)
Foreign tax rate differential	—			2			(5		)
Goodwill impairment	(288		)	(20		)	—
Sale of subsidiary	(136		)	(6		)	—
Other, net	10			5			(3		)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$	(738	)	$	(1,690	)	$	247

__________________

Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Deferred income tax assets:
Investments, including derivatives	$	313		$	357
Net operating loss carryfowards	416			—
Tax credit carryforwards	191			184
Intangibles	227			—
Other	74			55
Total deferred income tax assets	1,221			596
Less: valuation allowance	11			—
Total net deferred income tax assets	1,210			596
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Policyholder liabilities and receivables	853			536
Intangibles	—			293
Net unrealized investment gains	494			653
DAC	757			1,565
Total deferred income tax liabilities	2,104			3,047
Net deferred income tax asset (liability)	$	(894	)	$	(2,451	)

Summary of Tax Credit Carryforwards

The following table sets forth the general business credits, foreign tax credits, and other credit carryforwards for tax purposes at December 31, 2017.



	Tax Credit Carryforwards
	General Business Credits		Foreign Tax Credits		Other
	(In millions)
Expiration
2018-2022	$	—	$	—	$	—
2023-2027	—		14		—
2028-2032	—		—		—
2033-2037	2		—		—
Indefinite	—		—		175
	$	2	$	14	$	175

Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits was as follows:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Balance at January 1,	$	38		$	43		$	39
Additions for tax positions of prior years	—			1			5
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(4		)	(9		)	—
Additions for tax positions of current year	3			5			3
Reductions for tax positions of current year	(2		)	—			—
Settlements with tax authorities	(13		)	(2		)	(4		)
Balance at December 31,	$	22		$	38		$	43
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized would impact the effective rate	$	22		$	38		$	33

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Insurance-related Assessments

Loss Contingencies [Line Items]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency

Assets and liabilities held for insolvency assessments were as follows:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Other Assets:
Premium tax offset for future discounted and undiscounted assessments	$	13	$	13
Premium tax offsets currently available for paid assessments	5		8
Total	$	18	$	21
Other Liabilities:
Insolvency assessments	$	17	$	17

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the loss contingencies that were reported in the period or disclosed as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14472-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12021-110248

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14453-108349

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913245&loc=d3e12053-110248

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14394-108349

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14615-108349

+ Details

Related Party Transactions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities from transactions with related party broker-dealers at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Fee income receivables	$	19	$	19
Secured demand notes	$	—	$	20

The following table summarizes assets and liabilities from transactions with related parties (excluding broker-dealer transactions) at:



	December 31,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Assets	$	2,839	$	4,288
Liabilities	$	2,675	$	5,125

The following table summarizes income and expense from transactions with related party broker-dealers for the years indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Fee income	$	224	$	202	$	218
Commission expense	$	642	$	638	$	643

The following table summarizes income and expense from transactions with related parties (excluding broker-dealer transactions) for the years indicated:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Income	$	(149	)	$	(45	)	$	36
Expense	$	933		$	370		$	855

Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Segment shares	Aug. 04, 2017 shares	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Derivative assets	2,244	2,244	2,244				$ 3,603
Derivative liabilities	3,129	3,129	3,129				3,883
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities	575	575	575				668
Premiums and Other Receivables, Net	12,918	12,918	12,918				13,853
Payables For Collateral Under Securities Loaned And Other Transactions	$ 4,158	$ 4,158	$ 4,158				$ 7,371
Number of segments		3	3
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued \| shares	3,000	3,000	3,000				3,000
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 330	$ 330	$ 330
Spinoff [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued \| shares				119,773,106
Spinoff [Member] \| Parent shareholders' percentage [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Common Stock, Shares, Issued \| shares				96,776,670
Common Stock Distribution by Parent					80.80%
Spinoff [Member] \| Minimum
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Common Stock Distribution by Parent					80.10%
Distribution Rights [Member] \| Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period	40 years
Distribution Rights [Member] \| Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization period	10 years
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 19	19	19
CME update impact [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Derivative assets						$ 206
Derivative liabilities						927
Accrued investment income relating to variable interest entities						30
Premiums and Other Receivables, Net						765
Payables For Collateral Under Securities Loaned And Other Transactions						$ 74
Adjustments for New Accounting Principle, Early Adoption [Member] \| AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 9	$ 9	$ 9

Segment Information (Operating Results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	$ (1,621)	$ (4,465)	$ 1,165
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	738	1,690	(247)
Net investment gains (losses)	(27)	(67)	5
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,468)	(5,770)	(497)
Other Income	336	709	433
Net income (loss)	(883)	(2,775)	918
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	1,263	1,446	1,266
Interest expense	0	0	0
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	300	351	313
Interest expense	(4)	0	0
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	1,399	1,411	1,551
Interest expense	23	60	60
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest revenue	142	197	97
Interest expense	39	67	69
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	582	1,274	1,919
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	459	341	512
Adjusted earnings	123	933	1,407
Operating Segments \| Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	1,230	1,494	1,339
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	323	441	329
Adjusted earnings	907	1,053	1,010
Operating Segments \| Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(68)	6	(56)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(30)	0	(21)
Adjusted earnings	(38)	6	(35)
Operating Segments \| Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(466)	(249)	713
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(172)	(90)	247
Adjusted earnings	(294)	(159)	466
Operating Segments \| Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax adjusted earnings	(114)	23	(77)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	338	(10)	(43)
Adjusted earnings	(452)	33	(34)
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	1,197	2,031	265
Net investment gains (losses)	(27)	(67)	5
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,468)	(5,770)	(497)
Other Income	$ (708)	$ 98	$ (262)

Segment Information Segment Information (Reconciliation of Operating Revenues to Total Revenues) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 5,798	$ 2,260	$ 7,872
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	3,721	4,423	4,665
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,036	1,036	881
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	2,148	2,313	2,366
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	250	338	398
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (1,357)	$ (5,850)	$ (438)

Segment Information (Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 212,045	$ 211,425
Separate account assets	110,156	105,346
Separate account liabilities	110,156	105,346
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	149,920	146,224
Separate account assets	105,140	100,209
Separate account liabilities	105,140	100,209
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	13,044	12,296
Separate account assets	1,915	1,671
Separate account liabilities	1,915	1,671
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	36,719	40,575
Separate account assets	3,101	3,466
Separate account liabilities	3,101	3,466
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	12,362	12,330
Separate account assets	0	0
Separate account liabilities	$ 0	$ 0

Segment Information (Premiums, Universal Life and Investment-Type Policy Fees and Other Revenues by Major Product Groups) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues	$ 4,320	$ 4,986	$ 5,363
Annuity products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues	2,729	3,411	3,701
Life insurance (1)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues	1,587	1,552	1,529
Other products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total premiums, universal life and investment-type product policy fees and other revenues	$ 4	$ 23	$ 133

Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) - 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2017	Total	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of segments	3	3

Organizational Changes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Organizational Changes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 28, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital	$ 2,700			$ 2,737	$ 26	$ 50
Capital contribution		$ (202)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)				(738)	(1,690)	247
Net income (loss)				(883)	$ (2,775)	$ 918
Secured Debt	2,800
Spinoff [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Amount of other increase (decrease) in additional paid in capital (APIC) due to a return of capital			$ 3,400	3,400
Capital contribution			703
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)			$ 643
Notes Receivable, Related Parties				$ 1,100
Surplus Notes	$ 1,100

Insurance (Insurance Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Insurance Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance liabilities comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances	$ 75,504	$ 72,043
Annuities
Insurance Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance liabilities comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances	34,143	32,793
Life
Insurance Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance liabilities comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances	7,057	6,932
Run-off
Insurance Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance liabilities comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances	26,770	24,887
Corporate & Other
Insurance Liabilities [Line Items]
Insurance liabilities comprised of future policy benefits, policyholder account balances and other policy-related balances	$ 7,534	$ 7,431

Insurance (Liabilities for Guarantees) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Balance at January 1,	$ 6,852	$ 5,490	$ 4,528
Incurred guaranteed benefits	1,403	1,422	998
Paid guaranteed benefits	(57)	(60)	(36)
Balance at December 31,	8,198	6,852	5,490
Variable Annuity Guarantees \| Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Balance at January 1,	1,106	831	619
Incurred guaranteed benefits	367	335	248
Paid guaranteed benefits	(57)	(60)	(36)
Balance at December 31,	1,416	1,106	831
Variable Annuity Guarantees \| Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Balance at January 1,	2,206	1,872	1,535
Incurred guaranteed benefits	344	334	337
Paid guaranteed benefits	0	0	0
Balance at December 31,	2,550	2,206	1,872
Universal and Variable Life Contracts \| Secondary Guarantees
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Balance at January 1,	3,540	2,787	2,374
Incurred guaranteed benefits	692	753	413
Paid guaranteed benefits	0	0	0
Balance at December 31,	4,232	3,540	2,787
Net Ceded/(Assumed)
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	893	1,041	945	$ 799
liabilities for guarantees on long duration contracts reinsurance recoverable incurred benefits net	(93)	151	179
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55)	(55)	(33)
Net Ceded/(Assumed) \| Secondary Guarantees
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	946	1,105	1,007	846
liabilities for guarantees on long duration contracts reinsurance recoverable incurred benefits net	(159)	98	161
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Paid guaranteed benefits	0	0	0
Net Ceded/(Assumed) \| Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	(6)	(45)	(34)	(21)
liabilities for guarantees on long duration contracts reinsurance recoverable incurred benefits net	94	44	20
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Paid guaranteed benefits	(55)	(55)	(33)
Net Ceded/(Assumed) \| Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	(47)	(19)	(28)	(26)
liabilities for guarantees on long duration contracts reinsurance recoverable incurred benefits net	(28)	9	(2)
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Paid guaranteed benefits	0	0	0
Net
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	7,305	5,811	4,545	3,729
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Incurred guaranteed benefits	1,496	1,271	819
Paid guaranteed benefits	(2)	(5)	(3)
Net \| Secondary Guarantees
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	3,286	2,435	1,780	1,528
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Incurred guaranteed benefits	851	655	252
Paid guaranteed benefits	0	0	0
Net \| Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	1,422	1,151	865	640
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Incurred guaranteed benefits	273	291	228
Paid guaranteed benefits	(2)	(5)	(3)
Net \| Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts [Line Items]
Liabilities for Guarantees on Long-Duration Contracts, Guaranteed Benefit Liability, Net	2,597	2,225	1,900	$ 1,561
Movement In Guaranteed Benefit Liability Gross Rollforward
Incurred guaranteed benefits	372	325	339
Paid guaranteed benefits	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Insurance (Fund Groupings) (Details) - Variable Annuity and Variable Life - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Fund Groupings	$ 105,101	$ 100,111
Balanced
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Fund Groupings	54,729	52,170
Equity
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Fund Groupings	43,685	41,152
Bond
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Fund Groupings	6,082	6,086
Money Market
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Fund Groupings	$ 605	$ 703

Insurance (Guarantees Related to Annuity Contracts) (Details) - Variable Annuity Guarantees - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Guaranteed Death Benefits
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]
Total account value (3)	$ 105,061	$ 106,590
Separate account value	100,043	101,991
Net amount at risk	$ 5,200	$ 6,763
Average attained age of contract holders	68 years	67 years
Guaranteed Annuitization Benefits
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]
Total account value (3)	$ 59,691	$ 61,340
Separate account value	58,511	60,016
Net amount at risk	$ 2,330	$ 3,116
Average attained age of contract holders	68 years	67 years

Insurance (Guarantees Related to Universal and Variable Life Contracts) (Details) - Secondary Guarantees - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Universal Life [Member]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]
Total account value (3)	$ 6,244	$ 6,216
Net amount at risk (6)	$ 75,304	$ 76,216
Average attained age of policyholders	64 years	63 years
Variable Life [Member]
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee [Line Items]
Total account value (3)	$ 1,021	$ 960
Net amount at risk (6)	$ 13,848	$ 14,757
Average attained age of policyholders	44 years	43 years

Insurance (Obligations Under Funding Agreements - Liability and Collateral) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fixed and Floating Rate Funding Agreements by Type [Line Items]
Federal Home Loan Bank, Advances, Branch of FHLB Bank, Amount of Advances	$ 595	$ 645
Outstanding funding agreements to certain SPEs	$ 141	$ 127

Insurance (Insurance Liabilities Assumptions and Ratios - Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Liability for Future Policy Benefits and Policyholder Account Balances [Abstract]
Participating business as a percentage of gross life insurance policies in-force	4.00%	4.00%
Participating business as a percentage of the gross life insurance premiums	38.00%	42.00%	39.00%
Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate range credited to policyholder account balances	0.00%
Maximum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate range credited to policyholder account balances	7.00%
Participating Life Insurance Policy [Member] \| Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	4.00%
Nonparticipating Life Insurance Policies \| Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	3.00%
Nonparticipating Life Insurance Policies \| Maximum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	8.00%
Fixed Annuity [Member] \| Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	2.00%
Fixed Annuity [Member] \| Maximum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	8.00%
Other Insurance Product Line [Member] \| Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	4.00%
Other Insurance Product Line [Member] \| Maximum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	7.00%
Disability Insurance Policy [Member] \| Minimum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	3.00%
Disability Insurance Policy [Member] \| Maximum
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Interest rate assumptions for the aggregate future policy benefit liabilities for traditional life insurance policies	7.00%

Insurance (Obligations Under Funding Agreements - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Insurance [Abstract]
Funding agreements issued to certain SPEs	$ 0	$ 1,400	$ 13,000
Funding agreements repaid to certain SPEs	6	3,400	$ 14,400
Outstanding funding agreements to certain SPEs	141	127
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock	$ 71	$ 75

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (DAC and VOBA) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net [Abstract]
Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Amortization Expense, Realized Gain (Loss)	$ (9)	$ 2	$ (19)
Beginning Balance of DAC	5,667	5,066	5,097
Capitalizations of DAC	256	330	399
Net investment gains (losses) of DAC and net derivative gains (losses) of DAC	127	1,371	163
Other expenses of DAC	(958)	(1,076)	(690)
Total amortization of DAC	(831)	295	(527)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) of DAC	(77)	(24)	97
Ending Balance of DAC	5,015	5,667	5,066
Beginning Balance of VOBA	672	711	763
Other expenses of VOBA	(76)	(72)	(127)
Total amortization of VOBA	(85)	(70)	(146)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) of VOBA	21	31	94
Ending Balance of VOBA	608	672	711
Balance at December 31,	$ 5,623	$ 6,339	$ 5,777

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (DAC and VOBA by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 5,623	$ 6,339	$ 5,777
Annuities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	4,819	4,820
Life
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	671	787
Run-off
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	5	584
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 128	$ 148

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (Deferred Sales Inducements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
DSI
Balance at January 1,	$ 432	$ 515	$ 566
Capitalization	2	3	3
Amortization	(12)	(83)	(72)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)	(11)	(3)	18
Balance at December 31,	$ 411	$ 432	$ 515

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (VODA and VOCRA) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Insurance [Abstract]
Balance at January 1,	$ 120	$ 136	$ 155
Amortization	(15)	(16)	(19)
Balance at December 31,	105	120	136
Accumulated amortization	$ 155	$ 140	$ 124

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Value of Business Acquired and Other Policy-Related Intangibles (Estimated Future Amortization) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Estimated future amortization expense allocated to other expenses for VOBA [Abstract]
VOBA 2018	$ 98
VOBA 2019	84
VOBA 2020	62
VOBA 2021	53
VOBA 2022	46
Distribution Rights [Member]
Value of Distribution Agreements and Customer Relationships Acquired [Abstract]
VODA 2018	14
VODA 2019	13
VODA 2020	12
VODA 2021	10
VODA 2022	$ 9

Reinsurance (Effects of Reinsurance on Earnings) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Premiums:
Direct premiums	$ 1,731	$ 2,226	$ 2,404
Reinsurance assumed	13	81	296
Reinsurance ceded	(916)	(1,127)	(1,063)
Net premiums	828	1,180	1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:
Direct universal life and investment-type product policy fees	3,653	3,582	3,722
Reinsurance assumed	103	126	139
Reinsurance ceded	(600)	(611)	(568)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	3,156	3,097	3,293
Other revenues:
Direct other revenues	260	271	271
Reinsurance assumed	29	89	2
Reinsurance ceded	47	349	160
Net other revenues	336	709	433
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Direct policyholder benefits and claims	5,080	6,101	4,944
Reinsurance assumed	89	127	302
Reinsurance ceded	(1,575)	(2,490)	(2,159)
Net policyholder benefits and claims	3,594	3,738	3,087
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired
Direct amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	$ 916	$ (225)	$ 673

Reinsurance (Effects of Reinsurance on Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Effects of Reinsurance [Line Items]
Deposit Contracts, Liabilities	$ 198	$ 1
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	12,918	13,853
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	5,623	6,339	$ 5,777
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	35,715	32,752
Policyholder account balances	37,069	36,579
Other Policyholder Funds	2,720	2,712
Other Liabilities	4,419	5,445
Direct
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	367	1,161
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	36,359	35,838
Other Policyholder Funds	1,037	1,035
Other Liabilities	3,724	4,525
Assumed
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	43	23
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	710	741
Other Policyholder Funds	1,683	1,677
Other Liabilities	(6)	13
Ceded
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	12,508	12,669
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Other Policyholder Funds	0	0
Other Liabilities	$ 701	$ 907

Reinsurance (Effects of Affiliated Reinsurance on Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Premiums:
Reinsurance assumed	$ 13	$ 81	$ 296
Reinsurance ceded	(916)	(1,127)	(1,063)
Net premiums	828	1,180	1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:
Reinsurance assumed	103	126	139
Reinsurance ceded	(600)	(611)	(568)
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	3,156	3,097	3,293
Other revenues:
Reinsurance assumed	29	89	2
Reinsurance ceded	47	349	160
Net other revenues	336	709	433
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance assumed	89	127	302
Reinsurance ceded	(1,575)	(2,490)	(2,159)
Interest credited to policyholder account balances:
Direct amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	916	(225)	673
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Assumed
Premiums:
Reinsurance assumed	13	35	227
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:
Reinsurance assumed	103	126	139
Other revenues:
Reinsurance assumed	29	59	2
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance assumed	87	90	252
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Ceded
Premiums:
Reinsurance ceded	(537)	(766)	(687)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:
Reinsurance ceded	(14)	(60)	(58)
Other revenues:
Reinsurance ceded	44	348	160
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Reinsurance ceded	(420)	(737)	(656)
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Reinsurance [Member]
Premiums:
Net premiums	(524)	(731)	(460)
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees:
Net universal life and investment-type product policy fees	89	66	81
Other revenues:
Net other revenues	73	407	162
Policyholder benefits and claims:
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Assumed and Ceded	$ (333)	$ (647)	$ (404)

Reinsurance (Effects of Affiliated Reinsurance on Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	$ 12,918	$ 13,853
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	5,623	6,339	$ 5,777
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	35,715	32,752
Policyholder account balances	37,069	36,579
Other Policyholder Funds	2,720	2,712
Other Liabilities	4,419	5,445
Assumed
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	43	23
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	710	741
Other Policyholder Funds	1,683	1,677
Other Liabilities	(6)	13
Assumed \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	34	23
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	436	741
Other Policyholder Funds	1,683	1,677
Other Liabilities	(8)	11
Ceded
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	12,508	12,669
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Other Policyholder Funds	0	0
Other Liabilities	701	907
Ceded \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Assets:
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	3,254	3,382
Liabilities:
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Other Policyholder Funds	0	0
Other Liabilities	$ 401	$ 578

Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Deposit assets in premiums, reinsurance, and other receivables or secondary guarantee risk for reinsurance	$ 1,400.0	$ 1,500.0
Deposit liabilities in other liabilities for reinsurance	198.0	1.0
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	9,100.0	9,100.0
Reinsurance Recoverables, Allowance	0.0	0.0
Future policy benefits	35,715.0	32,752.0
Other assets	547.0	689.0
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	2,448.0	5,029.0
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net	5,623.0	6,339.0	$ 5,777.0
Other Liabilities	4,419.0	5,445.0
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	$ (1,621.0)	(4,465.0)	$ 1,165.0
PWL [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Percentage Of Participating Whole Life Insurance Policies	90.00%
Future policy benefits	$ 654.0
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	713.0
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net	95.0
Other Liabilities	43.0
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	72.0
Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount	$ 7,900.0	$ 7,800.0
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables percentage	87.00%	86.00%
Ceded Credit Risk, Secured [Member] \| Accident & health insurance
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 6,500.0
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	2,400.0	$ 2,600.0
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member] \| Five Largest Ceded Reinsurers [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Five largest reinsurers, reinsurance recoverables amount	1,400.0	$ 1,500.0
Mortality Risk [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Retention amount	$ 2.0
Reinsurance Retention Policy, Excess Retention, Percentage	90.00%
Mortality Risk on Case by Case Basis [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsured risk percentage	90.00%
Retention amount	$ 20.0
Reinsurance Retention Policy, Excess Retention, Percentage	100.00%
Quota Share Reinsurance for Certain Disability Business [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsured risk percentage	100.00%
Living And Death Benefit Guarantees [Member]
Reinsurance Retention Policy [Line Items]
Reinsured risk percentage	100.00%

Reinsurance (Related Party Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	May 01, 2017	Jan. 01, 2017	Dec. 01, 2016	Nov. 01, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability		$ 3,170,000,000			$ 2,234,000,000	$ 3,170,000,000
Other Liabilities		5,445,000,000			4,419,000,000	5,445,000,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs		5,667,000,000			5,015,000,000	5,667,000,000	$ 5,066,000,000						$ 5,097,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables		13,853,000,000			12,918,000,000	13,853,000,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net		6,339,000,000			5,623,000,000	6,339,000,000	5,777,000,000
Other Assets		689,000,000			547,000,000	689,000,000
Future policy benefits		32,752,000,000			35,715,000,000	32,752,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits		36,579,000,000			37,069,000,000	36,579,000,000
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Asset		360,000,000			175,000,000	360,000,000
Reinsurance recoverables		9,100,000,000			9,100,000,000	9,100,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax					(1,621,000,000)	(4,465,000,000)	1,165,000,000
Deposit Contracts, Assets		1,500,000,000			1,400,000,000	1,500,000,000
Deposit Contracts, Liabilities		1,000,000			198,000,000	1,000,000
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Deposit Contracts, Assets		1,400,000,000			1,300,000,000	1,400,000,000
Deposit Contracts, Liabilities		0			198,000,000	0
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability		741,000,000			436,000,000	741,000,000
Net derivatives gains (losses)					177,000,000	(21,000,000)	(47,000,000)
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Net derivatives gains (losses)					(126,000,000)	46,000,000	$ 54,000,000
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Asset		171,000,000			2,000,000	171,000,000
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Recapture MLUS [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments												$ 4,300,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables												4,000,000,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net												$ 87,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax			$ 246,000,000
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Life and Other [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments								$ 214,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables								$ 189,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	$ 17,000,000
Ceded Reinsurance [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Other Liabilities		907,000,000			701,000,000	907,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables		12,669,000,000			12,508,000,000	12,669,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits		0			0	0
Ceded Reinsurance [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Other Liabilities		578,000,000			401,000,000	578,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables		3,382,000,000			3,254,000,000	3,382,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits		0			0	0
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| BHL Recapture GMIB [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments									$ 568,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables									140,000,000
Future policy benefits									106,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits									460,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax				$ 89,000,000
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company NY [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Affiliate Recapture Variable Annuities [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Other Liabilities									359,000,000
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments									150,000,000
Future policy benefits									45,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits									168,000,000
New England Life Insurance Company [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Affiliate Recapture Variable Annuities [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Other Liabilities									68,000,000
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments									184,000,000
Future policy benefits									34,000,000
Policyholder Contract Deposits									$ 219,000,000
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| SPDARecapture [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments											$ 933,000,000
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs											23,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables											$ 923,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax		22,000,000
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| MRVTermRecapture [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Other Liabilities										$ 158,000,000
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments										27,000,000
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables										$ 94,000,000
Income (loss) before provision for income tax		24,000,000
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Reinsurance recoverables		2,600,000,000			2,400,000,000	2,600,000,000
Ceded Credit Risk, Unsecured [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 2,600,000,000			$ 2,500,000,000	$ 2,600,000,000

Investments (Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-For-Sale by Sector) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	$ 58,599	$ 57,289
Cost or Amortized Cost	212	280
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	2	1	$ (23)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	63,333	59,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	232	300
Fixed maturity securities
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	58,599	57,289
Gross Unrealized Gain	5,083	3,532
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	352	923
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	(3)	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	63,333	59,899
U.S. corporate
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	20,647	20,663
Gross Unrealized Gain	1,822	1,287
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	89	285
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	22,380	21,665
U.S. government and agency
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	14,185	11,872
Gross Unrealized Gain	1,844	1,281
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	116	237
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	15,913	12,916
RMBS
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	7,588	7,876
Gross Unrealized Gain	283	203
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	57	139
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	(3)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	7,817	7,940
Foreign corporate
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	6,457	6,071
Gross Unrealized Gain	376	220
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	62	168
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	6,771	6,123
State and political subdivision
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	3,573	3,520
Gross Unrealized Gain	532	376
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	6	38
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	1	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	4,098	3,858
CMBS
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	3,259	3,687
Gross Unrealized Gain	48	40
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	17	32
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	(1)	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	3,291	3,696
ABS
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	1,779	2,600
Gross Unrealized Gain	19	11
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	2	13
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,796	2,598
Foreign government
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	1,111	1,000
Gross Unrealized Gain	159	114
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	3	11
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,267	1,103
Equity securities
Available-for-sale Securities [Abstract]
Cost or Amortized Cost	212	280
Gross Unrealized Gain	21	29
Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	1	9
Gross Unrealized OTTI Loss	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	$ 232	$ 300

Investments (Maturities of Fixed Maturity Securities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Amortized Cost, Due in one year or less	$ 1,833
Amortized Cost, Due after one year through five years	10,018
Amortized Cost, Due after five years through ten years	11,131
Amortized Cost, Due after ten years	22,991
Amortized Cost, Structured Securities	12,626
Amortized Cost, Subtotal	58,599	$ 57,289
Estimated Fair Value, Due in one year or less	1,838
Estimated Fair Value, Due after one year through five years	10,347
Estimated Fair Value, Due after five years through ten years	11,458
Estimated Fair Value, Due after ten years	26,786
Estimated Fair Value, Structured Securities	12,904
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 63,333	$ 59,899

Investments (Continuous Gross Unrealized Losses for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-For-Sale) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position less than 12 months	914	1,711
Total number of securities in an unrealized loss position equal to or greater than 12 months	623	475
Fixed maturity securities
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	$ 10,561	$ 17,060
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	89	671
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	5,403	2,757
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	260	251
U.S. corporate
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	1,762	4,632
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	21	187
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	1,413	699
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	68	98
U.S. government and agency
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	4,764	4,396
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	36	237
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	1,573	0
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	80	0
RMBS
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	2,308	3,457
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	13	107
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	1,292	818
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	41	32
Foreign corporate
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	636	1,443
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	8	64
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	559	573
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	54	104
State and political subdivision
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	171	887
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	3	35
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	106	29
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	4	3
CMBS
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	603	1,553
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	6	26
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	335	171
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	10	5
ABS
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	165	450
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	0	5
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	75	461
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	2	8
Foreign government
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	152	242
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	2	10
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	50	6
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	1	1
Equity securities
Continuous Gross Unrealized Loss and OTTI Loss for Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-for-Sale
Less than 12 months Estimated Fair Value	17	57
Less than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	0	2
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Estimated Fair Value	10	40
Equal to or Greater than 12 Months Gross Unrealized Loss	$ 1	$ 7

Investments (Mortgage Loans by Portfolio Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Company-held mortgage loans held-for-investment, net
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 7,233	$ 6,497
Percentage of loans receivable on commercial mortgage loans	67.90%	69.90%
Agricultural mortgage loans	$ 2,200	$ 1,830
Percentage of loans receivable on agricultural mortgage loans	20.70%	19.70%
Residential mortgage loans	$ 1,138	$ 867
Percentage of loans receivable on residential mortgage loans	10.70%	9.30%
Subtotal (1)	$ 10,571	$ 9,194
Percentage of loans receivable on subtotal	99.30%	98.90%
Valuation allowances (2)	$ (46)	$ (40)
Percentage of loans receivable on valuation allowances	0.40%	0.40%
Subtotal mortgage loans, net	$ 10,525	$ 9,154
Percentage of loans receivable on subtotal mortgage loans held-for-investment, net	98.90%	98.50%
Percentage of loans receivable on commercial mortgage loans held by consolidated securitization entities - fair value option	1.10%	1.50%
Total mortgage loans, net	$ 10,640	$ 9,290
Percentage of total mortgage loans, net	100.00%	100.00%
Consolidated Securitization Entities
Company-held mortgage loans held-for-investment, net
Total mortgage loans, net	$ 115	$ 136

Investments (Credit Quality of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 7,233	$ 6,497
% of Total	100.00%	100.00%
Estimated Fair Value	$ 7,392	$ 6,570
% of Total	100.00%	100.00%
Less than 65%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 6,493	$ 6,115
% of Total	89.70%	94.10%
Estimated Fair Value	$ 6,654	$ 6,197
% of Total	90.00%	94.30%
65% to 75%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 656	$ 310
% of Total	9.10%	4.80%
Estimated Fair Value	$ 658	$ 303
% of Total	8.90%	4.60%
76% to 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 51	$ 34
% of Total	0.70%	0.50%
Estimated Fair Value	$ 50	$ 33
% of Total	0.70%	0.50%
Greater than 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 33	$ 38
% of Total	0.50%	0.60%
Estimated Fair Value	$ 30	$ 37
% of Total	0.40%	0.60%
Greater than 1.20x
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 6,851	$ 6,067
Greater than 1.20x \| Less than 65%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	6,167	5,718
Greater than 1.20x \| 65% to 75%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	642	291
Greater than 1.20x \| 76% to 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	42	34
Greater than 1.20x \| Greater than 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	0	24
1.00x - 1.20x
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	302	244
1.00x - 1.20x \| Less than 65%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	293	230
1.00x - 1.20x \| 65% to 75%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	0	0
1.00x - 1.20x \| 76% to 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	0	0
1.00x - 1.20x \| Greater than 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	9	14
Less than 1.00x
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	80	186
Less than 1.00x \| Less than 65%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	33	167
Less than 1.00x \| 65% to 75%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	14	19
Less than 1.00x \| 76% to 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	9	0
Less than 1.00x \| Greater than 80%
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commercial mortgage loans	$ 24	$ 0

Investments (Credit Quality of Agricultural and Residential Mortgage Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Agricultural Mortgage Loans - by Credit Quality Indicator:
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 2,200	$ 1,830
% of Total	100.00%	100.00%
Residential Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator [Abstract]
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 1,138	$ 867
% of Total	100.00%	100.00%
Less than 65%
Agricultural Mortgage Loans - by Credit Quality Indicator:
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 2,039	$ 1,789
% of Total	92.70%	97.80%
65% to 75%
Agricultural Mortgage Loans - by Credit Quality Indicator:
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 161	$ 41
% of Total	7.30%	2.20%
Performing
Residential Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator [Abstract]
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 1,106	$ 856
% of Total	97.20%	98.70%
Nonperforming
Residential Mortgage Loans by Credit Quality Indicator [Abstract]
Recorded investment in Mortgage Loan	$ 32	$ 11
% of Total	2.80%	1.30%

Investments (Investment in Leverage Leases) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investment in leveraged leases
Rental receivables, net	$ 87	$ 87
Estimated residual values	14	14
Subtotal	101	101
Unearned income	(35)	(32)
Investment in leveraged leases, net of non-recourse debt	$ 66	$ 69

Investments (Net Unrealized Investment Gains Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Components of net unrealized investment gains (losses) included in accumulated other comprehensive loss
Fixed maturity securities	$ 4,722	$ 2,600	$ 2,283
Fixed maturity securities with noncredit OTTI losses included in AOCI	2	1	(23)
Total fixed maturity securities	4,724	2,601	2,260
Equity securities	39	32	54
Derivatives	231	397	370
Short-term investments	0	(42)	0
Other	(8)	59	79
Subtotal	4,986	3,047	2,763
Future policy benefits	(2,370)	(922)	(126)
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	(2)	(2)	(1)
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(260)	(193)	(198)
Subtotal	(2,632)	(1,117)	(325)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1	0	9
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(495)	(653)	(827)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$ 1,860	$ 1,277	$ 1,620

Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Investment Gains Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Changes In Net Unrealized Investment Gains Losses Included In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Abstract]
Balance at January 1,	$ 1,277	$ 1,620	$ 2,628
Fixed maturity securities on which noncredit OTTI losses have been recognized	1	24	15
Unrealized investment gains (losses) during the year	1,938	260	(2,303)
Unrealized investment gains (losses) relating to
Future policy benefits	(1,448)	(796)	487
DAC and VOBA related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	0	(1)	1
DAC, VOBA and DSI	(67)	5	208
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) related to noncredit OTTI losses recognized in AOCI	1	(9)	(5)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	158	174	589
Balance at December 31,	1,860	1,277	1,620
Change in net unrealized investment gains (losses)	$ 583	$ (343)	$ (1,008)

Investments (Securities Lending) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Cash collateral on deposit from counterparties	$ 3,791	$ 6,642
Security collateral on deposit from counterparties	29	27
Reinvestment portfolio — estimated fair value	3,823	6,571
Amortized cost
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Securities loaned	3,085	5,895
Estimated fair value
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Securities loaned	$ 3,748	$ 6,555

Investments (Securities Lending Remaining Tenor) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	$ 3,791	$ 6,642
Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	1,626	2,129
1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	964	2,496
1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	1,201	2,017
U.S. government and agency
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	3,791	5,778
U.S. government and agency \| Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	1,626	2,129
U.S. government and agency \| 1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	964	1,906
U.S. government and agency \| 1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	1,201	1,743
U.S. corporate
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	480
U.S. corporate \| Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
U.S. corporate \| 1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	480
U.S. corporate \| 1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Agency RMBS
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	274
Agency RMBS \| Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Agency RMBS \| 1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Agency RMBS \| 1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	274
Foreign corporate
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	58
Foreign corporate \| Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Foreign corporate \| 1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	58
Foreign corporate \| 1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Foreign government
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	52
Foreign government \| Open (1)
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	0
Foreign government \| 1 Month of Less
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	0	52
Foreign government \| 1 to to Months
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Total	$ 0	$ 0

Investments (Invested Assets on Deposit, Held In Trust and Pledged as Collateral) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Invested assets on deposit (regulatory deposits) (1)	$ 8,259	$ 7,644
Invested assets held-in-trust (reinsurance agreements) (2)	2,634	9,054
Invested assets pledged as collateral (3)	3,199	3,548
Total invested assets on deposit, held in trust, and pledged as collateral	$ 14,092	$ 20,246

Investments (PCI Investments by Invested Asset Class) (Details) - Fixed maturity securities - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Purchased credit impaired investments, by invested asset class, held:
Outstanding principal and interest balance	$ 1,237	$ 1,458
Carrying value	$ 1,020	$ 1,113

Investments (PCI Investments Acquired) (Details) - Fixed maturity securities - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Purchased credit impaired investments as of their respective acquisition dates
Contractually required payments (including interest)	$ 3	$ 558
Cash flows expected to be collected (1)	3	483
Fair value of investments acquired	$ 2	$ 341

Investments (Activity For Accretable Yield on PCI Investments) (Details) - Fixed maturity securities - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Accretable yield, January 1,	$ 419	$ 400
Accretion recognized in earnings	(67)	(66)
Disposals	(10)	(8)
Reclassification (to) from nonaccretable difference	34	(49)
Accretable yield, December 31,	377	419
Investments Purchased [Member]
Accretable yield on purchased distressed assets acquired
Investments purchased	$ 1	$ 142

Investments (Consolidated Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets:
Accrued Investment Income Receivable	$ 575	$ 668
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	46	1,904
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	4,419	5,445
MRSC (collateral financing arrangement) (1)
Assets:
Total assets	0	3,422
Consolidated securitization entities
Assets:
Mortgage loans (commercial mortgage loans)	115	136
Accrued Investment Income Receivable	1	1
Total assets	116	137
Liabilities
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	11	23
Other liabilities relating to variable interest entities	0	1
Total liabilities	$ 11	$ 24

Investments (Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	$ 13,217	$ 14,913
Carrying Amount Liability	14,176	15,720
Other limited partnership interests
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	1,509	1,491
Carrying Amount Liability	2,460	2,287
Real estate joint ventures
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	24	17
Carrying Amount Liability	27	22
Other investments
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	47	60
Carrying Amount Liability	52	66
Structured securities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	11,136	12,809
Carrying Amount Liability	11,136	12,809
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying Amount Asset	501	536
Carrying Amount Liability	$ 501	$ 536

Investments (Net Investment Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	$ 2,965	$ 3,100	$ 2,985
Less: Investment expenses	175	173	126
Net investment income	2,973	3,111	3,001
Securities Investment
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	3,140	3,273	3,111
Fixed maturity securities
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	2,347	2,567	2,398
Equity securities
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	12	19	19
Mortgage loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	442	393	367
Policy loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	49	54	54
Real estate and real estate joint ventures
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	53	32	108
Other limited partnership interests
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	182	163	134
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	30	20	9
Other investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	25	25	22
FVO CSEs — interest income — commercial mortgage loans \| Consolidated Securitization Entities
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	$ 8	$ 11	$ 16

Investments (Components of Net Investment Gains Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Marketable Securities, Gain (Loss)
Fixed maturity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	$ (25)	$ (28)	$ (60)
Equity securities — net gains (losses) on sales and disposals	26	10	18
Other net investment gains (losses):
Mortgage loans	(9)	5	(11)
Real estate and real estate joint ventures	4	(34)	98
Other limited partnership interests	(11)	(7)	(1)
Other	(4)	11	(2)
Subtotal	(24)	(67)	8
FVO CSEs - changes in estimated fair value:
Commercial mortgage loans	(3)	(2)	(7)
Long-term debt - related to commercial mortgage loans	1	1	4
Non-investment portfolio gains (losses)	(1)	1	0
Subtotal	(3)	0	(3)
Total net investment gains (losses)	(27)	(67)	5
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	0	(16)	(17)
RMBS
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	0	(6)	(14)
State and political subdivision
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(1)	0	0
Fixed maturity securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(1)	(22)	(31)
Net investment gains (losses)	(26)	(50)	(91)
Industrial
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	0	(16)	(3)
Consumer
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	0	0	(8)
Utility
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	0	0	(6)
Equity securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(4)	(2)	(3)
Net investment gains (losses)	$ 22	$ 8	$ 15

Investments (Sales or Disposals and Impairments of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fixed maturity securities
Components of Sales or Disposals of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
Proceeds	$ 11,974	$ 39,210	$ 32,085
Gross investment gains	58	253	184
Gross investment losses	(83)	(281)	(244)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(1)	(22)	(31)
Net investment gains (losses)	(26)	(50)	(91)
Equity securities
Components of Sales or Disposals of Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities
Proceeds	68	48	80
Gross investment gains	27	10	26
Gross investment losses	(1)	0	(8)
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings:
Total OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(4)	(2)	(3)
Net investment gains (losses)	$ 22	$ 8	$ 15

Investments (Credit Loss Rollforward) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Other than Temporary Impairment, Credit Losses Recognized in Earnings [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	$ 28	$ 66
Additions:
Additional impairments — credit loss OTTI on securities previously impaired	0	5
Reductions:
Balance at December 31,	0	28
Sales (maturities, pay downs or prepayments) of securities previously impaired as credit loss OTTI	(28)	(42)
Increase in cash flows — accretion of previous credit loss OTTI	$ 0	$ (1)

Investments (Related Party Investment Transactions) (Details) - Affiliated Entity [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Invested Assets Transferred To and From Affiliates
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	$ 292	$ 1,495	$ 185
Amortized cost of invested assets transferred to former affiliates	294	1,400	169
Net investment gains (losses) recognized on transfers	(2)	27	16
Change Additional Paid In Capital Recognized On Transfers	0	68	0
Estimated fair value of invested assets transferred from former affiliates	$ 0	$ 5,582	$ 928

Investments (Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities Available-For-Sale - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 63,333	$ 59,899
Non-Income Producing Debt Securities [Member]
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	3	5
Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss)	$ (2)
Maximum \| Non-Income Producing Debt Securities [Member]
Summary of Certain Fixed Maturity Securities
Gross Unrealized Gain (Loss)		$ 1

Investments (Evaluation of Available-For-Sale Securities for OTTI and Evaluating Temporarily Impaired AFS Securities - Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Contracts
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fixed securities available-for-sale with gross unrealized loss of equal to or greater than stated percentage	20.00%
Fixed maturity securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Change in Gross Unrealized Temporary Loss	$ 573
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	349
20% or more \| Six months or greater \| Fixed maturity securities
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ 5
Number of Securities \| Contracts	10
20% or more \| Six months or greater \| Fixed maturity securities \| External Credit Rating, Investment Grade
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ 2

Investments (Mortgage Loans - Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Contracts	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Contracts	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Significant Purchases	$ 420	$ 619
Percentage of Mortgage Loans Classified as Performing	99.00%	99.00%
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Subsequent Default, Number of Contracts \| Contracts	0	0
Agricultural
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Estimated fair value of mortgage loans held-for-investment	$ 2,200	$ 1,900
Financing Receivable Number of Contract of Recorded Investment Past Due \| Contracts	0	0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Number of Contract, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest \| Contracts	0	0
Residential
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Estimated fair value of mortgage loans held-for-investment	$ 1,200	$ 867
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment, Past Due	32	11
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 11	$ 4
Commercial
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Financing Receivable Number of Contract of Recorded Investment Past Due \| Contracts	0	0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Number of Contract, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest \| Contracts	0	0
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Financing Receivable, Significant Purchases	$ 1,200	$ 2,400	$ 2,000
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 945	$ 1,600	$ 1,000

Investments Investments (Other Invested Assets _ Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2017
Other invested assets
Percentage Estimated Fair Value	80.00%

Investments (Leverage Leases - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Percentage of rental receivables performing	100.00%	100.00%
Deferred income tax liability related to leveraged leases	$ 43	$ 74
Minimum
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	1 year
Maximum
Loans and Leases Receivable Disclosure [Line Items]
Lessor, Operating Lease, Term of Contract	15 years

Investments (Cash Equivalents - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Cash equivalents	$ 1.0	$ 4.7

Investments (Concentrations of Credit Risk - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments in any counterparty that were greater than 10% of equity	$ 0	$ 0
Securities holdings exposure in single issuer greater than stated percentage of Company's equity	10.00%

Investments (Securities Lending Remaining Tenor - Narrative) (Details) $ in Billions	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
U.S. government and agency
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage Of US Treasury And Agency Securities At Estimated Fair Value Of Securities On Loan Relating To Cash Collateral On Open	100.00%
Securities Investment
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of Reinvestment Portfolio in Fixed Maturity Securities	59.00%
Estimated fair value
Securities Financing Transaction [Line Items]
Cash collateral on deposit from counterparties	$ 1.6

Investments (Invested Assets on Deposit, Held in Trust and Pledged as Collateral-Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deposit Assets	$ 8,259	$ 7,644
Assets Held-in-trust	2,634	9,054
Policyholder Account Balances [Member]
Deposit Assets		34
Fixed maturity securities \| Policyholder Account Balances [Member]
Deposit Assets	34
Fixed maturity securities \| Reinsurance [Member]
Assets Held-in-trust	$ 42	$ 15

Investments (Collectively Significant Equity Method Investments - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Gross Profit (Loss)
Carrying Value of investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 2,200			$ 89
Unfunded commitments for investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 1,100
Aggregate Net income Exceeded Stated Percentage Of The Pre Tax Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Total assets for investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 328,900	$ 285,100
Total liabilities for investments accounted for under the equity method	39,800	26,300
Net Income (loss) for investments accounted for under the equity method	$ 36,200	$ 21,300	$ 13,700

Investments (Consolidated Variable Interest Entities - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Consolidated securitization entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable interest, maximum exposure to loss in consolidated securitization entities	$ 86	$ 95

Investments (Unconsolidated Variable Interest Entities - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Financial or other support to investees designated as VIEs	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Investments (Related Party Investment Transactions - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2016	Apr. 01, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in Notes Receivable, Related Parties	$ 1,100
Equity Method Investments		$ 89	$ 2,200
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments		286
Capital contribution		$ (202)
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party					$ 39
Operating Expenses			1,000	$ 847	1,100
Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Other investments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 1,100
Related Party Loan One [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Other investments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest Rate			4.21%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Sep. 30, 2032
Related Party Loan Two [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member] \| Other investments
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest Rate			5.10%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Dec. 31, 2033
Recapture MLUS [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments							$ 4,300
Contract Termination [Member] \| Recapture MLUS [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments						$ 5,200
Contract Termination [Member] \| Recapture MLIC [Member] \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Short-term Investments							$ 5,200
Metlife Investment Advisors, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Operating Expenses			$ 93	$ 98	$ 79

Derivatives (Primary Risks) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	$ 113,450	$ 131,396
Estimated Fair Value Assets	2,244	3,603
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	3,129	3,883
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,964	1,775
Estimated Fair Value Assets	135	234
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	75	10
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Fair Value Hedges [Member] \| Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	175	310
Estimated Fair Value Assets	44	41
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,789	1,465
Estimated Fair Value Assets	91	193
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	75	10
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	27	45
Estimated Fair Value Assets	5	7
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Foreign currency swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,762	1,420
Estimated Fair Value Assets	86	186
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	75	10
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	111,486	129,621
Estimated Fair Value Assets	2,109	3,369
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	3,054	3,873
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest rate swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	20,213	28,175
Estimated Fair Value Assets	922	1,928
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	774	1,688
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest rate floors
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	0	2,100
Estimated Fair Value Assets	0	5
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	2
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest rate caps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	2,671	12,042
Estimated Fair Value Assets	7	25
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest rate futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	282	1,288
Estimated Fair Value Assets	1	9
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest Rate Swaption [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	24,600	15,520
Estimated Fair Value Assets	133	136
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	63	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Foreign currency swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,103	1,250
Estimated Fair Value Assets	69	153
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	41	4
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Foreign currency forwards
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	130	158
Estimated Fair Value Assets	0	9
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	2	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Credit default swaps — purchased
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	65	34
Estimated Fair Value Assets	0	0
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	1	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Credit default swaps — written
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,878	1,891
Estimated Fair Value Assets	40	28
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Equity futures
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	2,713	8,037
Estimated Fair Value Assets	15	38
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	0
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Equity index options
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	47,066	37,501
Estimated Fair Value Assets	794	897
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	1,664	934
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Equity variance swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	8,998	14,894
Estimated Fair Value Assets	128	140
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	430	517
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Interest rate total return swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	0	3,876
Estimated Fair Value Assets	0	0
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	0	611
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Equity total return swaps
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Gross Notional Amount	1,767	2,855
Estimated Fair Value Assets	0	1
Estimated Fair Value Liabilities	$ 79	$ 117

Derivatives (Net Derivative Gains Losses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Components of Net Derivatives Gains (Losses)
Total net derivative gains (losses)	$ (1,468)	$ (5,770)	$ (497)

Derivatives (Earned Income On Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total earned income	$ 343	$ 495	$ 384
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Net investment income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total earned income	21	19	11
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments \| Interest credited to policyholder account balances
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total earned income	0	0	(2)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Net derivative gains (losses)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total earned income	314	460	361
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Policyholder benefits and claims
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Total earned income	$ 8	$ 16	$ 14

Derivatives (Gains Losses Recognized in Income Not Designated or Qualifying) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net Derivative Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	$ (1,739)	$ (6,213)	$ (851)
Net investment income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	5	(1)	(1)
Policyholder benefits and claims
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	(349)	(328)	1
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Net Derivative Gains (Losses)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	(1,749)	(6,252)	(857)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Net investment income
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	(1)	(6)	(4)
Derivatives Not Designated or Not Qualifying as Hedging Instruments \| Policyholder benefits and claims
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivatives Gains (Losses) Recognized for Derivatives	$ (349)	$ (328)	$ 1

Derivatives (Fair Value Hedges) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net Derivative Gains (Losses) Recognized for Hedged Items	$ 43	$ 17	$ 7

Derivatives (Cash Flow Hedges) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships
Gain (Loss) on Discontinuation of Cash Flow Hedge Due to Forecasted Transaction Probable of Not Occurring, Net	$ 9	$ 1	$ 3
Maximum Length of Time Hedged in Cash Flow Hedge	2 years	3 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Cumulative Changes in Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges, Effect Net of Tax	$ 231	$ 397
Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Derivatives in cash flow hedging relationships
Amount of Gains (Losses) Deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	not significant

Derivatives (Credit Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	$ 40	$ 28
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	$ 1,878	$ 1,891
Weighted Average Years to Maturity	4 years 1 month	4 years 2 months
Aaa/Aa/A
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	$ 12	$ 9
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	$ 558	$ 478
Weighted Average Years to Maturity	2 years 9 months	3 years 7 months
Baa
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	$ 28	$ 19
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	$ 1,295	$ 1,393
Weighted Average Years to Maturity	4 years 8 months	4 years 5 months
Ba
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	$ 0	$ 0
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	$ 25	$ 20
Weighted Average Years to Maturity	4 years 6 months	2 years 8 months

Derivatives (Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives Assets and Liabilities after Master Netting Agreements and Cash) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals	$ 2,291	$ 3,707
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals	3,120	3,834
Amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets, Assets	0	0
Amounts offset in the consolidated balance sheets, Liabilities	0	0
Net amount of derivative assets after application of master netting agreements and cash collateral	43	157
Net amount of derivative liabilities after application of master netting agreements and cash collateral	0	0
Estimated fair value of derivative assets presented in the consolidated balance sheets	2,291	3,707
Estimated fair value of derivative liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheets	3,120	3,834
Over the Counter [Member]
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals	2,222	3,394
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals	3,080	2,929
Gross estimated fair value of derivative assets	(1,942)	(2,231)
Gross estimated fair value of derivative liabilities	(1,942)	(2,231)
Cash collateral on derivative assets	(247)	(634)
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities	0	0
Securities collateral on derivative assets	(31)	(429)
Securities collateral on derivative liabilities	(1,138)	(698)
Exchange-cleared [Member]
Offsetting Assets [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset Excluding Accruals	69	313
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability Excluding Accruals	40	905
Gross estimated fair value of derivative assets	(1)	(165)
Gross estimated fair value of derivative liabilities	(1)	(165)
Cash collateral on derivative assets	(27)	(91)
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities	(39)	(740)
Securities collateral on derivative assets	0	0
Securities collateral on derivative liabilities	$ 0	$ 0

Derivatives (Credit Risk on Freestanding Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Derivatives in Net Liability Position	$ 1,138	$ 698
Fixed Maturity Securities
Credit Derivatives [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value of Collateral Provided	$ 1,414	$ 777

Derivatives (Embedded Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Asset	$ 175	$ 360
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability	2,234	3,170
Ceded guaranteed minimum benefits \| Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Asset	227	409
Direct guaranteed minimum benefits \| Policyholder account balances
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability	1,122	2,237
Deferred Fixed Annuity [Member] \| Policyholder account balances
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability	1	0
Assumed guaranteed minimum benefits \| Policyholder account balances
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability	437	741
Other Embedded Derivatives [Member] \| Policyholder account balances
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Liability	674	192
Options embedded in debt or equity securities [Member] \| Other Investments [Member]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net [Abstract]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative Asset	$ (52)	$ (49)

Derivatives (Changes in Estimated Fair Value Related to Embedded Derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net derivative gains (losses)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net derivatives gains (losses)	$ 1,237	$ (1,741)	$ (344)
Policyholder Benefits And Claims Incurred Net [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Net derivatives gains (losses)	$ (16)	$ (4)	$ 21

Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Derivatives (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	$ 2,244	$ 3,603
Derivative liabilities	3,129	3,883
Maximum Amount of Future Payments under Credit Default Swaps	1,878	1,891
Estimated Fair Value of Credit Default Swaps	40	28
Cash collateral on derivative assets	93	3
Cash collateral on derivative liabilities	5	25
Derivative Instrument Detail [Abstract]
Net amounts reclassified into net derivatives gains (losses) on discontinued cash flow hedges	$ 9	$ 1	$ 3
Hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for specific length of time	2 years	3 years
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	$ 231	$ 397
Customer Securities for which Entity has Right to Sell or Repledge, Fair Value of Securities Sold or Repledged	0
Over the Counter [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Excess securities collateral received on derivatives	(337)	(135)
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	471	108
Exchange-cleared [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	426	630
Exchange Traded [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Excess securities collateral provided on derivatives	118	453
Nonperformance Risk [Member] \| Direct And Assumed Guaranteed Minimum Benefit [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Embedded derivatives gains (losses)	337	200	$ 0
Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivative assets	47	(9)
Derivative liabilities	$ 104	$ (49)

Fair Value (Recurring Fair Value Measurements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 63,333	$ 59,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	232	300
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269	1,272
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	10,640	9,290
Derivative assets	2,244	3,603
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts	175	360
Separate account assets	110,156	105,346
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	3,129	3,883
Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts	2,234	3,170
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	46	1,904
Consolidated Securitization Entities
Assets [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	115	136
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	11	23
Recurring
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	63,333	59,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	232	300
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269	1,272
Derivative assets	2,244	3,603
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts	227	409
Separate account assets	110,156	105,346
Total assets	176,576	170,965
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	3,129	3,883
Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts	2,234	3,170
Total liabilities	5,374	7,076
Recurring \| Consolidated Securitization Entities
Assets [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	115	136
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	11	23
Recurring \| Interest rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	1,112	2,151
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	837	2,301
Recurring \| Foreign currency exchange rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	155	348
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	118	14
Recurring \| Credit
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	40	28
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	1
Recurring \| Equity market
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	937	1,076
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	2,173	1,568
Recurring \| U.S. corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	22,380	21,665
Recurring \| U.S. government and agency
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	15,913	12,916
Recurring \| RMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	7,817	7,940
Recurring \| Foreign corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	6,771	6,123
Recurring \| State and political subdivision
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	4,098	3,858
Recurring \| ABS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,796	2,598
Recurring \| Foreign government
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,267	1,103
Recurring \| CMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	3,291	3,696
Recurring \| Level 1
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	8,002	6,110
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	18	39
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	135	702
Derivative assets	16	46
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts	0	0
Separate account assets	410	720
Total assets	8,581	7,617
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts	0	0
Total liabilities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Consolidated Securitization Entities
Assets [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Interest rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	1	9
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Foreign currency exchange rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Credit
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Equity market
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	15	37
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| U.S. corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| U.S. government and agency
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	8,002	6,110
Recurring \| Level 1 \| RMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Foreign corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| State and political subdivision
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| ABS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| Foreign government
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 1 \| CMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 2
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	52,167	49,767
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	90	124
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	120	568
Derivative assets	2,069	3,370
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts	0	0
Separate account assets	109,741	104,616
Total assets	164,302	158,581
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	2,691	2,742
Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts	0	0
Total liabilities	2,702	2,765
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Consolidated Securitization Entities
Assets [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	115	136
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	11	23
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Interest rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	1,111	2,142
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	837	1,690
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Foreign currency exchange rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	155	348
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	117	14
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Credit
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	30	20
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	1
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Equity market
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	773	860
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	1,736	1,038
Recurring \| Level 2 \| U.S. corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	21,491	20,221
Recurring \| Level 2 \| U.S. government and agency
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	7,911	6,806
Recurring \| Level 2 \| RMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	6,836	6,627
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Foreign corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	5,723	5,257
Recurring \| Level 2 \| State and political subdivision
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	4,098	3,841
Recurring \| Level 2 \| ABS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,691	2,383
Recurring \| Level 2 \| Foreign government
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,262	1,103
Recurring \| Level 2 \| CMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	3,155	3,529
Recurring \| Level 3
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	3,164	4,022
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	124	137
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	14	2
Derivative assets	159	187
Net embedded derivatives within asset host contracts	227	409
Separate account assets	5	10
Total assets	3,693	4,767
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	438	1,141
Net embedded derivatives within liability host contracts	2,234	3,170
Total liabilities	2,672	4,311
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Consolidated Securitization Entities
Assets [Abstract]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt, at estimated fair value, relating to variable interest entities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Interest rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0	611
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Foreign currency exchange rate
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	0	0
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	1	0
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Credit
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	10	8
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	0
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Equity market
Assets [Abstract]
Derivative assets	149	179
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivative liabilities	437	530
Recurring \| Level 3 \| U.S. corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	889	1,444
Recurring \| Level 3 \| U.S. government and agency
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	0
Recurring \| Level 3 \| RMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	981	1,313
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Foreign corporate
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	1,048	866
Recurring \| Level 3 \| State and political subdivision
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	0	17
Recurring \| Level 3 \| ABS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	105	215
Recurring \| Level 3 \| Foreign government
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	5	0
Recurring \| Level 3 \| CMBS
Assets [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 136	$ 167

Fair Value (Quantitative Information) (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Interest rate contracts \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Repurchase Rate	0.00%	(44.00%)
Interest rate contracts \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Repurchase Rate	0.00%	18.00%
Credit contracts \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	0.00%	97.00%
Credit contracts \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Credit spreads	0.00%	98.00%
Equity market contracts \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Correlation	10.00%	40.00%
Volatility	11.00%	14.00%
Equity market contracts \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Correlation	30.00%	40.00%
Volatility	31.00%	32.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Utilization rates	0.00%	0.00%
Withdrawal rates	0.25%	0.25%
Long-term equity volatilities	17.40%	17.40%
Nonperformance risk spread	0.64%	0.04%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 1 - 10
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	0.25%	0.25%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 11 - 20
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	1.50%	2.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 21 - 116
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	1.50%	2.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 0 - 40
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 41 - 60
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	0.04%	0.04%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Minimum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 61 – 115
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	0.26%	0.26%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Utilization rates	25.00%	25.00%
Withdrawal rates	10.00%	10.00%
Long-term equity volatilities	25.00%	25.00%
Nonperformance risk spread	1.43%	0.57%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 1 - 10
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	100.00%	100.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 11 - 20
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	100.00%	100.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Durations 21 - 116
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Lapse Rate	100.00%	100.00%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 0 - 40
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	0.09%	0.09%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 41 - 60
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	0.65%	0.65%
Embedded Derivative Financial Instruments [Member] \| Maximum \| Income Approach Valuation Technique \| Ages 61 – 115
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Mortality Rate	100.00%	100.00%
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate \| Minimum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes Matrix Pricing	$ 93	$ 18
Offered quotes		37
Quoted prices	0	13
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate \| Maximum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes Matrix Pricing	142	138
Offered quotes		109
Quoted prices	443	700
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate \| Weighted Average \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Offered Quotes Matrix Pricing	110	104
Offered quotes		85
Quoted prices	76	99
RMBS \| Minimum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Quoted prices	3	38
RMBS \| Maximum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Quoted prices	107	111
RMBS \| Weighted Average \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Quoted prices	94	91
ABS \| Minimum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Offered quotes	100	98
Quoted prices	100	94
ABS \| Maximum \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Offered quotes	100	100
Quoted prices	104	106
ABS \| Weighted Average \| Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Offered quotes	100	99
Quoted prices	$ 101	$ 100

Fair Value (Unobservable Input Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net Derivatives
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	$ (954)	$ (232)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	92	(703)	$ (74)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	4	2
Purchases	4	10
Sales	0	0
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	579	(33)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0
Balance at December 31,	(279)	(954)	(232)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	(52)	(687)	(64)
Net Embedded Derivatives
Fair Value, Net Derivative Asset (Liability) Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	(2,761)	(442)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	1,233	(1,760)	(303)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0
Sales	0	0
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	(479)	(559)
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	0
Balance at December 31,	(2,007)	(2,761)	(442)
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	1,300	(1,772)	(310)
U.S. corporate and foreign corporate
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	2,310	2,410
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(3)	(11)	16
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	127	(24)	(120)
Purchases	442	584
Sales	(222)	(443)
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	178	119
Transfers out of Level 3	(895)	(325)
Balance at December 31,	1,937	2,310	2,410
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	1	2	11
Structured securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	1,695	1,996
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	28	30	21
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	52	21	(14)
Purchases	106	600
Sales	(526)	(598)
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	11	12
Transfers out of Level 3	(144)	(366)
Balance at December 31,	1,222	1,695	1,996
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	23	28	21
State and political subdivision
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	17	13
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	0	0	0
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0
Sales	0	0
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	9
Transfers out of Level 3	(17)	(5)
Balance at December 31,	0	17	13
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	0	0	0
Foreign government
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	0	27
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	0	0	0
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	0	(2)
Purchases	5	0
Sales	0	0
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	0	(27)
Balance at December 31,	5	0	27
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	0	0	0
Equity securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	137	97
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	(3)	0	11
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	(11)	(10)
Purchases	3	0
Sales	(13)	(26)
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	131
Transfers out of Level 3	0	(54)
Balance at December 31,	124	137	97
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	0	0	0
Short-term Investments
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	2	47
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	0	0	0
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	0	0
Purchases	14	3
Sales	(1)	(1)
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	0	0
Transfers into Level 3	0	0
Transfers out of Level 3	(1)	(47)
Balance at December 31,	14	2	47
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	0	0	0
Separate account assets
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1,	10	146
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss)	0	0	(6)
Total realized/unrealized gains (losses) included in AOCI	0	0	0
Purchases	2	2
Sales	(4)	(134)
Issuances	0	0
Settlements	(1)	0
Transfers into Level 3	2	0
Transfers out of Level 3	(4)	(4)
Balance at December 31,	5	10	146
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) included in net income (loss) for the instruments still held at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value (Fair Value Option for Certain Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$ 10,640	$ 9,290
Carrying value at estimated fair value	46	1,904
Consolidated Securitization Entities
Fair Value, Option, Quantitative Disclosures [Line Items]
Unpaid principal balance	70	88
Difference between estimated fair value and unpaid principal balance	45	48
Carrying value at estimated fair value	115	136
Contractual principal balance	10	22
Difference between estimated fair value and contractual principal balance	1	1
Carrying value at estimated fair value	$ 11	$ 23

Fair Value (Financial Instruments Carried at Other Than Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Policy loans	$ 1,106	$ 1,093
Liabilities
Separate account liabilities	110,156	105,346
Estimated Fair Value
Assets
Mortgage loans	10,768	9,298
Policy loans	1,185	1,177
Real estate joint ventures	22	44
Other limited partnership interests	28	42
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties	0	1,090
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	1,909	2,815
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	15,760	17,259
Long-term debt	42	2,117
Other liabilities	461	256
Separate account liabilities	1,206	1,110
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 1
Assets
Mortgage loans	0	0
Policy loans	0	0
Real estate joint ventures	0	0
Other limited partnership interests	0	0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties	0	0
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	0	0
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities	0	0
Separate account liabilities	0	0
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 2
Assets
Mortgage loans	0	0
Policy loans	746	746
Real estate joint ventures	0	0
Other limited partnership interests	0	0
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties	0	1,090
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	126	834
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	0	0
Long-term debt	42	2,117
Other liabilities	93	90
Separate account liabilities	1,206	1,110
Estimated Fair Value \| Level 3
Assets
Mortgage loans	10,768	9,298
Policy loans	439	431
Real estate joint ventures	22	44
Other limited partnership interests	28	42
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties	0	0
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	1,783	1,981
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	15,760	17,259
Long-term debt	0	0
Other liabilities	368	166
Separate account liabilities	0	0
Carrying Value
Assets
Mortgage loans	10,525	9,154
Policy loans	1,106	1,093
Real estate joint ventures	5	12
Other limited partnership interests	36	44
Loans and Leases Receivable, Related Parties	0	1,100
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	1,556	2,363
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances	15,626	16,043
Long-term debt	35	1,881
Other liabilities	459	256
Separate account liabilities	$ 1,206	$ 1,110

Fair Value (Recurring Fair Value Measurements) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net	$ (52)	$ (49)

Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 16, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 46			$ 1,904
Unamortized debt issuance costs	6
Variable Interest Entity
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 11			23
Surplus Note Due 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	8.595%	8.595%
Long-term Debt	$ 0			744
Surplus Note Due 2032
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	5.13%		5.13%
Long-term Debt	$ 0			750
Surplus Note Due 2033
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	6.00%		6.00%
Long-term Debt	$ 0			350
Non-recourse Debt Due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	7.028%
Long-term Debt	$ 35			37
Long-term Debt Excluding CSEs
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 35			$ 1,881

Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Jun. 16, 2017	Apr. 28, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt maturities, year one			$ 2,000,000
Long-term debt maturities, year two			2,000,000
Long-term debt maturities, year three			2,000,000
Long-term debt maturities, year four			2,000,000
Long-term debt maturities, year five			2,000,000
Long-term debt maturities, after year five			26,000,000
Interest expense			56,000,000	$ 130,000,000	$ 137,000,000
Decrease in notes receivable due from a related party due to exchange of debt for notes receivable due from a related party		$ 1,100,000,000
Credit facilities, commitment fee amount			19,000,000	55,000,000	61,000,000
MRSC committed credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facilities, maximum borrowing capacity				3,500,000,000
MRV committed credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facilities, maximum borrowing capacity				4,300,000,000
BRCD Committed Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facilities, maximum borrowing capacity		$ 10,000,000,000
Credit facilities, term		20 years
Credit facilities, outstanding balance			0
Credit facilities, remaining borrowing capacity			8,300,000,000
Long-term Debt Excluding CSEs
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest expense			$ 58,000,000	$ 128,000,000	$ 128,000,000
Surplus Note Due 2038
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Decrease in long-term debt due to debt forgiveness	$ 750,000,000
Debt instrument, stated interest rate	8.595%		8.595%
MRD Surplus Notes Due 2032 And 2033
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Decrease in long-term debt due to exchange of debt for notes receivable due from a related party		$ 1,100,000,000
Surplus Note Due 2032
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate		5.13%	5.13%
Surplus Note Due 2033
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, stated interest rate		6.00%	6.00%

Equity (Capital Contributions - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Capital contributions				$ (202)
Returns of capital	$ 2,700				$ 2,737	$ 26	$ 50
Accrued capital contributions							120	$ 385
Cash Capital Contribution
Capital contributions				$ 202	$ 1,300	1,600	21
Non-cash Contribution
Capital contributions		$ 1,100	$ 750			$ 69	$ 181

Equity (Statutory Equity & Income and Dividend Restrictions - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2018
Parent Company
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Paid	$ 0	$ 261
Parent Company \| Scenario, Forecast
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Permitted w/o approval				$ 84
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
RBC Adjusted Ratios	in excess of 400%	in excess of 400%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	$ (425)	$ 1,186	$ (1,022)
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	5,594	4,374
Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Prescribed Practice, Amount	8,300
Paid	535
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	(1,600)
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	$ 972	$ 2,600
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
RBC Adjusted Ratios	in excess of 400%	in excess of 400%
Paid	$ 0	$ 0
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount	22	(87)	17
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Capital and Surplus, Balance	$ 294	196
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Permitted w/o approval				$ 21
Metlife Reinsurance Company of Vermont Cell [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Prescribed Practice, Amount		3,000
MetLife Reinsurance Company of Delaware [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Prescribed Practice, Amount		260
Domestic Captive Life Reinsurance Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Net Income Amount		$ (363)	$ (372)

Equity (Statutory Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Equity (Statutory Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory capital and surplus	$ 5,594	$ 4,374
Statutory net income (loss)	(425)	1,186	$ (1,022)
Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory capital and surplus	294	196
Statutory net income (loss)	$ 22	$ (87)	$ 17

Equity (Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	$ 0
Balance beginning of period	1,248	$ 1,594	$ 2,622
OCI before reclassifications	386	(498)	(1,693)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(155)	160	619
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,479	1,256	1,548
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	47	(13)	72
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	311	5	(26)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	358	(8)	46
Balance end of period	1,837	1,248	1,594
Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	330
Balance beginning of period	1,019	1,379	2,445
OCI before reclassifications	529	(565)	(1,759)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(206)	185	643
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	1,342	999	1,329
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	61	30	78
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	306	(10)	(28)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	367	20	50
Balance end of period	1,709	1,019	1,379
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	258	241	183
OCI before reclassifications	(152)	70	95
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	54	(25)	(33)
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	160	286	245
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(14)	(43)	(6)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	5	15	2
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	(9)	(28)	(4)
Balance end of period	151	258	241
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Balance beginning of period	(29)	(26)	(6)
OCI before reclassifications	9	(3)	(29)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)	(3)	0	9
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax	(23)	(29)	(26)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0	0	0
Deferred income tax benefit (expense) (2)	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax	0	0	0
Balance end of period	$ (23)	$ (29)	$ (26)

Equity (Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Investments	$ (27)	$ (67)	$ 5
Net investment income	2,973	3,111	3,001
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,468)	(5,770)	(497)
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(1,621)	(4,465)	1,165
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	738	1,690	(247)
Net income (loss)	(883)	(2,775)	918
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(358)	8	(46)
Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses), Net of Related Offsets \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Investments	(15)	(39)	(81)
Net investment income	1	3	13
Net derivative gains (losses)	(47)	6	(10)
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(61)	(30)	(78)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(306)	10	28
Net income (loss)	(367)	(20)	(50)
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	14	43	6
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	(5)	(15)	(2)
Net income (loss)	9	28	4
Interest rate swaps \| Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net investment income	3	3	1
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	33	1
Interest rate forwards \| Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net investment income	3	2	2
Net derivative gains (losses)	0	2	2
Foreign currency swaps \| Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives \| Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net derivative gains (losses)	$ 8	$ 3	$ 0

Other Expenses (Other Expenses) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Compensation	$ 263	$ 356	$ 487
Commissions	741	641	722
Volume-related costs	175	279	231
Related party expenses on ceded and assumed reinsurance	0	22	17
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Capitalization	(256)	(330)	(399)
Interest expense on debt	56	130	137
Goodwill impairment	0	381	0
Premium taxes, licenses and fees	58	59	71
Professional services	239	85	22
Rent and related expenses	12	46	54
Other	545	412	381
Total other expenses	$ 1,833	$ 2,081	$ 1,723

Income Tax (Provision for Income Tax from Continuing Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current:
Federal	$ 368	$ (374)	$ 35
Foreign	18	4	0
Subtotal	386	(370)	35
Deferred:
Federal	(1,124)	(1,320)	212
Foreign	0	0	0
Subtotal	(1,124)	(1,320)	212
Current and Deferred
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$ (738)	$ (1,690)	$ 247

Income Tax (Reconciliation of Income Tax Provision between US Statutory Rate and As Reported for Continuing Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income tax expense benefit continuing operations income tax reconciliation
Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate	$ (567)	$ (1,563)	$ 408
Dividend received deduction	(116)	(110)	(132)
Excess loss account - Separation from MetLife (1)	1,088	0	0
Rate revaluation due to tax reform (2)	(696)	0	0
Prior year tax	(4)	24	(5)
Tax credits	(29)	(22)	(16)
Foreign tax rate differential	0	2	(5)
Goodwill impairment	(288)	(20)	0
Sale of subsidiary	(136)	(6)	0
Other, net	10	5	(3)
Provision for income tax expense (benefit)	$ (738)	$ (1,690)	$ 247

Income Tax (Net Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred income tax assets:
Investments, including derivatives	$ 313	$ 357
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	416	0
Tax credit carryforwards	191	184
Deferred Tax Assets, Goodwill and Intangible Assets	227	0
Other	74	55
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	11	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	1,221	596
Total deferred income tax assets	1,210	596
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Deferred Expense, Reserves and Accruals	853	536
Deferred income tax liabilities:
Intangibles	0	293
Net unrealized investment gains	494	653
DAC	757	1,565
Total deferred income tax liabilities	2,104	3,047
Deferred tax assets and liabilities [Abstract]
Net deferred income tax asset (liability)	$ (894)	$ (2,451)

Income Tax (Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at January 1,	$ 38	$ 43	$ 39
Additions for tax positions of prior years	0	1	5
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(4)	(9)	0
Additions for tax positions of current year	3	5	3
Reductions for tax positions of current year	(2)	0	0
Settlements with tax authorities	(13)	(2)	(4)
Balance at December 31,	22	38	43
Unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized would impact the effective rate	$ 22	$ 38	$ 33

Income Tax (Tax Credit Carryforwards) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	$ 191	$ 184
Foreign Tax Authority
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	14
Foreign Tax Authority \| 2018-2022
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Foreign Tax Authority \| 2023-2027
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	14
Foreign Tax Authority \| 2028-2032
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Foreign Tax Authority \| 2033-2037
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Foreign Tax Authority \| Indefinite
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
General business tax credit carryforward
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	2
General business tax credit carryforward \| 2018-2022
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
General business tax credit carryforward \| 2023-2027
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
General business tax credit carryforward \| 2028-2032
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
General business tax credit carryforward \| 2033-2037
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	2
General business tax credit carryforward \| Indefinite
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Other tax credit carryforward
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	175
Other tax credit carryforward \| 2018-2022
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Other tax credit carryforward \| 2023-2027
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Other tax credit carryforward \| 2028-2032
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Other tax credit carryforward \| 2033-2037
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	0
Other tax credit carryforward \| Indefinite
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]
Tax credit carryforwards	$ 175

Income Tax (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
Income Tax (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Examination, Penalties Expense		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Income tax benefit related to the separate account dividends received deduction		$ 123,000	88,000	143,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent		50.00%
Operating Loss Carryforwards		$ 2,000,000
Excess loss account - Separation from MetLife (1)		1,088,000	0	0
Rate revaluation due to tax reform (2)		(696,000)	0	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards		416,000	0
Due from Related Parties		$ 857,000
Minimum
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date		Jan. 01, 2033
Maximum
True-up of the prior year tax return included in current year benefit related to the separate account dividends received deduction		$ 6,000	$ 22,000	$ 13,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Date		Jan. 01, 2037
Alternative Minimum Tax adjustment [Member]
Rate revaluation due to tax reform (2)		$ (696,000)
Metlife Inc [Member]
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction	$ 723,000

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Insolvency Assessments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Other Assets:
Premium tax offset for future discounted and undiscounted assessments	$ 13	$ 13
Premium tax offsets currently available for paid assessments	5	8
Other Liabilities:
Insolvency assessments	17	17
Insurance-related Assessments
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Total assets held for insolvency assessments	$ 18	$ 21

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Commitments - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Mortgage Loan Commitments
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Off-balance sheet commitments	$ 388	$ 335
Commitments to Fund Partnership Investments and Private Corporate Bond Investments
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Off-balance sheet commitments	$ 1,400	1,300
Affiliated Entity \| Secured Demand Notes
Fair Value, Off-balance Sheet Risks, Disclosure Information [Line Items]
Off-balance sheet commitments		20
Fair value of collateral transferred to custody accounts to secure certain demand notes		$ 25

Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Guarantees - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Textuals) [Abstract]
Cumulative maximum indemnities and guarantees contractual limitation	$ 208
Liabilities for indemnities, guarantees and commitments	2	$ 2
Minimum
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indemnities and guarantees contractual limitation range	6
Maximum
Contingencies, Commitments and Guarantees (Textuals) [Abstract]
Indemnities and guarantees contractual limitation range	$ 203

Related Party Transactions (Related Party Transactions) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assets	$ 857
All Services and Transactions Except Broker Dealer Activities [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income	(149)	$ (45)	$ 36
Expense	933	370	855
Assets	2,839	4,288
Liabilities	2,675	5,125
Broker Dealer Activities [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Income	224	202	218
Expense	642	638	$ 643
Assets	19	19
Liabilities	$ 0	$ 20

Related Party Transaction (Related Party Transaction - Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Expenses	$ 1,000	$ 847	$ 1,100

Consolidated Summary of Investments - Other Than Investments in Related Parties (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	$ 75,374
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	80,128
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	10,640	$ 9,290
Policy loans	1,106	1,093
Real Estate Investments, Net	433	215
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,667	1,639
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	2,448	5,029
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269	$ 1,272
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	58,599
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	63,333
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	63,333
U.S. government and agency
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	14,185
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	15,913
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	15,913
State and political subdivision
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	3,573
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	4,098
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	4,098
Public Utility, Bonds [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	2,111
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	2,408
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	2,408
Foreign government
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	1,111
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	1,267
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	1,267
Other Corporate Bonds [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	24,755
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	26,400
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	26,400
Bonds [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	45,735
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	50,086
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	50,086
Mortgage Backed And Asset Backed Securities [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	12,626
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	12,904
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	12,904
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	238
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	343
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	343
Equity Securities, Investment Summary [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	212
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	232
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	232
Industrial, Miscellaneous, and All Others [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	83
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	92
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	92
Public Utility, Equities [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	0
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	2
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	2
Nonredeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Cost	129
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	138
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value	138
Mortgage loans
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	10,640
Policy loans
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	1,106
Real estate and real estate joint ventures
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	433
Other limited partnership interests
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	1,667
Short-term Investments [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	269
Other invested assets [Member]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Reportable Data [Line Items]
Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Carrying Amount	$ 2,448

Condensed Financial Information Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	$ 63,333	$ 59,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	232	300
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	10,640	9,290
Policy loans	1,106	1,093
Real estate joint ventures	433	215
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,667	1,639
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269	1,272
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	2,448	5,029
Total investments	80,128	78,737
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,363	5,057	$ 1,507	$ 1,553
Accrued Investment Income Receivable	575	668
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	12,918	13,853
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net	5,623	6,339	5,777
Current income tax recoverable	735	736
Other Assets	547	689
Separate Account Assets	110,156	105,346
Total assets	212,045	211,425
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	35,715	32,752
Policyholder account balances	37,069	36,579
Other policy-related balances	2,720	2,712
Payables For Collateral Under Securities Loaned And Other Transactions	4,158	7,371
Deferred income tax liability	894	2,451
Other Liabilities	4,419	5,445
Separate Accounts, Liability	110,156	105,346
Total liabilities	195,177	194,560
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock, par value $25,000 per share; 4,000 shares authorized; 3,000 shares issued and outstanding	75	75
Additional Paid in Capital	19,073	18,461
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(4,132)	(2,919)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	1,837	1,248	1,594	2,622
Total Brighthouse Life Insurance Company's stockholder's equity	16,853	16,865
Total liabilities and equity	212,045	211,425
Parent Company
Investments [Abstract]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Securities	55,180	51,880
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	210	300
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate	10,127	8,746
Policy loans	1,106	1,093
Real estate joint ventures	419	200
Other Limited Partnership Interests	1,662	1,632
Short-term investments, principally at estimated fair value	269	926
Investment in subsidiaries	5,681	7,338
Other invested assets, at estimated fair value	2,291	3,712
Total investments	76,945	75,827
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	1,249	1,881	$ 1,379	$ 1,197
Accrued Investment Income Receivable	511	591
Premiums, reinsurance and other receivables	9,658	10,397
Due from Affiliates	10,397	9,703
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Insurance Profits, Net	5,123	5,274
Current income tax recoverable	39	454
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	1,247	1,016
Other Assets	536	667
Separate Account Assets	105,135	100,588
Total assets	210,840	206,398
Liabilities
Future policy benefits	35,003	31,684
Policyholder account balances	36,034	35,588
Other policy-related balances	3,347	3,384
Payables For Collateral Under Securities Loaned And Other Transactions	4,153	7,362
Notes Payable, Related Parties	0	744
Other Liabilities	10,315	10,183
Separate Accounts, Liability	105,135	100,588
Total liabilities	193,987	189,533
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Common stock, par value $25,000 per share; 4,000 shares authorized; 3,000 shares issued and outstanding	75	75
Additional Paid in Capital	19,073	18,461
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	(4,132)	(2,919)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	1,837	1,248
Total Brighthouse Life Insurance Company's stockholder's equity	16,853	16,865
Total liabilities and equity	$ 210,840	$ 206,398

Condensed Financial Information Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Balance Sheet - Parenthetical) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 58,599	$ 57,289
Cost of equity securities available-for-sale	212	280
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Real Estate	$ 46	$ 40
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	4,000	4,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	3,000	3,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	3,000	3,000
Parent Company
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Amortized cost of fixed maturity securities available-for-sale	$ 50,878	$ 49,356
Cost of equity securities available-for-sale	193	280
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses, Real Estate	$ 44	$ 38
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	4,000	4,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	3,000	3,000
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	3,000	3,000

Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Premiums	$ 828	$ 1,180	$ 1,637
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	3,156	3,097	3,293
Net investment income	2,973	3,111	3,001
Other revenues	336	709	433
Net investment gains (losses)	(27)	(67)	5
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,468)	(5,770)	(497)
Total revenues	5,798	2,260	7,872
Net policyholder benefits and claims	3,594	3,738	3,087
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	1,076	1,131	1,224
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	916	(225)	673
Operating Expenses	1,833	2,081	1,723
Total expenses	7,419	6,725	6,707
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(1,621)	(4,465)	1,165
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(738)	(1,690)	247
Parent Company
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Premiums	283	921	1,433
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees	2,774	2,696	2,940
Income (Loss) from Subsidiaries, before Tax	1,221	157	144
Net investment income	2,613	2,680	2,550
Other revenues	402	760	504
Net investment gains (losses)	(7)	(2)	20
Net derivative gains (losses)	(1,425)	(5,878)	(424)
Total revenues	5,861	1,334	7,167
Net policyholder benefits and claims	2,862	2,984	2,696
Interest credited to policyholder account balances	909	957	1,037
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	310	(172)	595
Operating Expenses	1,848	2,114	1,710
Total expenses	5,929	5,883	6,038
Income (loss) before provision for income tax	(68)	(4,549)	1,129
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	815	(1,774)	211
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(883)	(2,775)	918
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ (294)	$ (3,121)	$ (110)

Condensed Financial Information Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 3,946	$ 4,131	$ 4,992
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	16,409	45,460	38,341
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	97	224	308
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	761	1,560	1,083
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	77	446	512
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	262	417	425
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(17,811)	(39,097)	(43,502)
Purchases of equity securities	(2)	(58)	(273)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(2,044)	(2,847)	(2,560)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(268)	(75)	(109)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(263)	(203)	(233)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,859	707	224
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,829)	(2,764)	(869)
Cash received under repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Cash received under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	42	0	0
Net change in policy loans	(14)	109	(72)
Net change in short-term investments	1,057	596	(343)
Net change in other invested assets	(16)	7	(55)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,683)	4,532	(7,097)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	4,381	10,040	20,269
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(3,114)	(12,292)	(21,078)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(3,139)	(3,251)	3,121
Long-term debt issued	0	0	175
Long-term debt repaid	(13)	(26)	(235)
Capital contributions	1,300	1,688	406
Capital contribution associated with the sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	202	0	0
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	0	(261)	(500)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(149)	(1,011)	(97)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,957)	(5,113)	2,061
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	0	0	(2)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(3,694)	3,550	(46)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	5,057	1,507	1,553
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,363	5,057	1,507
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Net cash paid (received) for interest	81	130	137
Net cash paid (received) for income tax	(684)	150	(463)
Non-cash transactions:
Transfer of fixed maturity securities from former affiliates	0	4,030	0
Transfer of mortgage loans from former affiliates	0	662	0
Transfer of short-term investments from former affiliates	0	94	0
Transfer of fixed maturity securities to former affiliates	293	346	0
Reduction of other invested assets in connection with affiliated reinsurance transactions	0	676	0
Reduction of policyholder account balances in connection with reinsurance transactions	293	0	0
Parent Company
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,460	3,256	4,196
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales, maturities and repayments of fixed maturity securities	14,667	39,104	35,728
Sales, maturities and repayments of equity securities	119	175	308
Sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	704	1,484	958
Sales, maturities and repayments of real estate and real estate joint ventures	75	441	368
Sales, maturities and repayments of other limited partnership interests	258	413	422
Purchases of fixed maturity securities	(16,287)	(34,906)	(39,298)
Purchases of equity securities	(2)	(58)	(273)
Purchases of mortgage loans	(2,017)	(2,803)	(2,515)
Purchases of real estate and real estate joint ventures	(268)	(75)	(105)
Purchases of other limited partnership interests	(263)	(203)	(233)
Cash received in connection with freestanding derivatives	1,858	707	223
Cash paid in connection with freestanding derivatives	(3,829)	(2,764)	(868)
Cash received under repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Cash received under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	199
Cash paid under reverse repurchase agreements	0	0	(199)
Sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	67	0	0
Returns of capital from subsidiaries	7	32	169
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	(83)	(1)	(2)
Dividends from subsidiaries	544	0	0
Net change in policy loans	(14)	109	(72)
Net change in short-term investments	711	876	(495)
Net change in other invested assets	(41)	5	(59)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,794)	2,536	(5,744)
Cash flows from financing activities
Policyholder account balances: Deposits	3,845	9,672	19,970
Policyholder account balances: Withdrawals	(2,360)	(12,001)	(20,797)
Net change in payables for collateral under securities loaned and other transactions	(3,136)	(3,257)	3,118
Long-term debt issued	0	0	175
Long-term debt repaid	0	0	(148)
Capital contributions	1,300	1,568	11
Capital contribution associated with the sale of operating joint venture interest to a former affiliate	202	0	0
Dividends paid to MetLife, Inc.	0	(261)	(500)
Financing element on certain derivative instruments and other derivative related transactions, net	(149)	(1,011)	(97)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(298)	(5,290)	1,732
Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents balances	0	0	(2)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(632)	502	182
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	1,881	1,379	1,197
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,249	1,881	1,379
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Net cash paid (received) for interest	12	64	65
Net cash paid (received) for income tax	(421)	428	(267)
Non-cash transactions:
Capital contributions	0	43	141
Transfer of fixed maturity securities from former affiliates	0	3,565	0
Transfer of mortgage loans from former affiliates	0	395	0
Transfer of short-term investments from former affiliates	0	94	0
Transfer of fixed maturity securities to former affiliates	293	346	0
Reduction of other invested assets in connection with affiliated reinsurance transactions	0	676	0
Reduction of policyholder account balances in connection with reinsurance transactions	$ 293	$ 0	$ 0

Condensed Financial Information (Parent Company) (Investment in Subsidiaries Footnote) (Detail) (Notes) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Capital contributions	$ (202)
Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Capital contributions		$ 83
Cash dividends received from subsidiaries		544
Parent Company \| Brighthouse Life Insurance Co of NY
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Capital contributions		75
Parent Company \| Brighthouse Reinsurance Company of Delaware
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash dividends received from subsidiaries		$ 535

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	$ 5,623	$ 6,339	$ 5,777
Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances	38,435	35,464
Policyholder account balances	37,069	36,579
Unearned Premiums	18	19
Unearned Revenue	216	218
Annuities
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	4,819	4,820
Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances	8,200	7,560
Policyholder account balances	25,943	25,233
Unearned Premiums	0	0
Unearned Revenue	93	86
Life
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	671	787
Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances	4,437	4,094
Policyholder account balances	2,620	2,838
Unearned Premiums	13	13
Unearned Revenue	28	53
Run-off
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	5	584
Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances	18,265	16,381
Policyholder account balances	8,505	8,506
Unearned Premiums	0	0
Unearned Revenue	95	79
Corporate & Other
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
DAC and VOBA	128	148
Future Policy Benefits and Other Policy-Related Balances	7,533	7,429
Policyholder account balances	1	2
Unearned Premiums	5	6
Unearned Revenue	$ 0	$ 0

Consolidated Supplementary Insurance Information (Income Statement Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	$ 3,984	$ 4,277	$ 4,930
Net Investment Income	2,973	3,111	3,001
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	4,670	4,869	4,311
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	916	(225)	673
Other Expenses	1,833	1,700	1,723
Annuities
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	2,448	2,714	3,282
Net Investment Income	1,238	1,324	1,141
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	2,140	2,340	2,285
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	141	(908)	432
Other Expenses	1,035	903	938
Life
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	713	546	555
Net Investment Income	285	330	295
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	681	541	507
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	186	261	150
Other Expenses	237	242	259
Run-off
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	715	878	793
Net Investment Income	1,358	1,311	1,461
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	1,788	1,901	1,301
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	570	399	67
Other Expenses	278	275	285
Corporate & Other
Supplementary Insurance Information, by Segment [Line Items]
Premiums and Universal Life and Investment-Type Product Policy Fees	108	139	300
Net Investment Income	92	146	104
Policyholder Benefits and Claims and Interest Credited to Policyholder Account Balances	61	87	218
Amortization of DAC and VOBA Charged to Other Expenses	19	23	24
Other Expenses	$ 283	$ 280	$ 241

Consolidated Reinsurance (Consolidated Reinsurance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidated Reinsurance
Life Insurance in Force, Gross Amounts	$ 589,488	$ 610,206	$ 591,105
Life Insurance in Force, Ceded Amounts	194,032	450,000	466,406
Life Insurance in Force, Assumed Amounts	9,006	7,006	94,863
Life Insurance in Force, Net Amounts	$ 404,462	$ 167,212	$ 219,562
Life Insurance in Force, Percentage Assumed to Net	2.20%	4.20%	43.20%
Direct Premiums Earned	$ 1,731	$ 2,226	$ 2,404
Ceded Premiums Earned	916	1,127	1,063
Assumed Premiums Earned	13	81	296
Premiums Earned, Net	$ 828	$ 1,180	$ 1,637
Premiums, Percentage Assumed to Net	1.60%	6.90%	18.10%
Life insurance (1)
Consolidated Reinsurance
Direct Premiums Earned	$ 1,500	$ 1,850	$ 2,172
Ceded Premiums Earned	689	909	824
Assumed Premiums Earned	13	67	84
Premiums Earned, Net	$ 824	$ 1,008	$ 1,432
Premiums, Percentage Assumed to Net	1.60%	6.60%	5.90%
Accident & health insurance
Consolidated Reinsurance
Direct Premiums Earned	$ 231	$ 376	$ 232
Ceded Premiums Earned	227	218	239
Assumed Premiums Earned	0	14	212
Premiums Earned, Net	$ 4	$ 172	$ 205
Premiums, Percentage Assumed to Net	0.00%	8.10%	103.40%

Consolidated Reinsurance (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Consolidated Reinsurance
Reinsurance ceded	$ 916	$ 1,127	$ 1,063
Reinsurance assumed	13	81	296
Assumed Premiums, Life Insurance in Force	9,006	7,006	94,863
Ceded Premiums, Life Insurance in Force	194,032	450,000	466,406
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Consolidated Reinsurance
Assumed Premiums, Life Insurance in Force	9,000	7,000	86,400
Ceded Premiums, Life Insurance in Force	17,100	266,300	278,400
Life insurance (1)
Consolidated Reinsurance
Reinsurance ceded	689	909	824
Reinsurance assumed	13	67	84
Life insurance (1) \| Affiliated Entity [Member]
Consolidated Reinsurance
Reinsurance ceded	537	766	687
Reinsurance assumed	$ 13	$ 35	$ 227