Transactions with Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance assumed risk	$ 6,167,000,000	[1],[2]			$ 6,167,000,000	[1],[2]
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed reinsurance liability	54,000,000				54,000,000			54,000,000
Earned premiums	12,000,000		1,000,000		23,000,000		4,000,000
Payout annuity				2,200,000,000
Payout annuity, period				12 years
Hartford Life Insurance K.K. (HLIKK)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed reinsurance liability	2,300,000,000				2,300,000,000			2,600,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (HLAI) | Hartford Life Liimited Ireland (HLL) | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed reinsurance liability	6,000,000				6,000,000			5,000,000
Reinsurance assumed risk	63,000,000				63,000,000			80,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (HLAI) | Hartford Life Liimited Ireland (HLL) | Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Benefit and Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Derivative fair value reported as labilities	35,000,000				35,000,000			37,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (HLAI) | Hartford Life Insurance K.K. (HLIKK) | Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed reinsurance liability	30,000,000				30,000,000			50,000,000
Reinsurance assumed risk	4,500,000,000				4,500,000,000			5,000,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (HLAI) | Hartford Life Insurance K.K. (HLIKK) | Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Derivative fair value reported as labilities	$ 2,900,000,000				$ 2,900,000,000			$ 3,200,000,000

[1] MAV: the GMDB is the greatest of current AV, net premiums paid and the highest AV on any anniversary before age 80 (adjusted for withdrawals).

[2] NAR is defined as the guaranteed benefit in excess of the current AV. RNAR is NAR reduced for reinsurances. NAR and RNAR are highly sensitive to equity market movements and increase when equity markets decline.