Transactions with Affiliates Transactions with Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Jan. 02, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Earned premiums	$ 37,000,000	$ 43,000,000
Net realized gains (losses)	1,434,000,000	(1,232,000,000)
Total revenues	2,402,000,000	342,000,000
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses	457,000,000	701,000,000
Insurance operating costs and other expenses	(265,000,000)	(864,000,000)
Total benefits, losses and expenses	1,871,000,000	18,000,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	531,000,000	324,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	145,000,000	56,000,000
Net income (loss)	386,000,000	288,000,000
Reinsurance recoverables	19,804,000,000			2,893,000,000
Funds Held under Reinsurance Agreements, Liability			691,000,000
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party	(347,000,000)	0
Reinsurance loss on dispositions	1,492,000,000	0
hig_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalNetOfTax	224,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company (HLAI) | White River Life Reinsurance [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Earned premiums	(12,000,000)	(18,000,000)
Net realized gains (losses)	(517,000,000)	(1,094,000,000)
Total revenues	(529,000,000)	(1,112,000,000)
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses	(8,000,000)	(15,000,000)
Insurance operating costs and other expenses	(422,000,000)	(1,263,000,000)
Total benefits, losses and expenses	(430,000,000)	(1,278,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(99,000,000)	166,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(35,000,000)	58,000,000
Net income (loss)	(64,000,000)	108,000,000
Reinsurance (payables) / recoverables	1,100,000,000			1,300,000,000
Deposit liabilities	355,000,000			0
Reinsurance recoverables				900,000,000
HLAI [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reinsurance loss on dispositions	$ 344,000,000