Investments (Net Investment Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026	Mar. 31, 2025
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	$ 3,420	$ 3,174
Less: Investment expenses	320	298
Net investment income	3,100	2,876
Fixed Maturity Securities
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	2,044	1,868
Mortgage loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	717	763
Policy loans
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	73	70
Real Estate and Real Estate Joint Ventures
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	161	129
Other limited partnership interests
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	183	113
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	90	90
FVO Securities [Member]
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Net investment income	(40)	(33)
Operating joint venture
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	18	16
Equity securities
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	1	4
Other Investments
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Gross Investment Income, Operating	$ 173	$ 154

Amount, before investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

Name:	us-gaap_GrossInvestmentIncomeOperating
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expenses related to the generation of investment income.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInvestmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after investment expense, of income earned from investments in securities and real estate. Includes, but is not limited to, real estate investment, policy loans, dividends, and interest. Excludes realized gain (loss) on investments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 830
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479168/946-830-55-10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 14
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477548/944-605-55-14

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477548/944-605-55-11

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2)(d))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477250/944-220-S99-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07(4))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479134/946-220-S99-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477250/944-220-S99-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-SubTopic 220
-Topic 946
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479105/946-220-45-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetInvestmentIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(2)(a))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477250/944-220-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentIncomeReportedAmountsByCategoryLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_PolicyLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=srt_PartnershipInterestMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=mlic_FVOSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=mlic_InternationalJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: