Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ (53,000,000)	$ 3,000,000	$ 93,000,000	$ 59,000,000
Earned premiums	0	(2,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Revenue
Fee income	0	138,000,000	8,000,000	281,000,000
Securities available-for-sale and other	(2,000,000)	3,000,000	(2,000,000)	6,000,000
Equity securities, trading	0	(25,000,000)	138,000,000	80,000,000
Total net investment income (loss)	(2,000,000)	(22,000,000)	136,000,000	86,000,000
Net realized capital gains (losses)	(1,000,000)	19,000,000	(10,000,000)	48,000,000
Total revenues	(3,000,000)	133,000,000	132,000,000	410,000,000
Benefits, losses and expenses
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses	0	1,000,000	1,000,000	2,000,000
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses - returns credited on international variable annuity	0	(25,000,000)	138,000,000	80,000,000
Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits	0	9,000,000	0	18,000,000
Insurance operating costs and other expenses	(11,000,000)	146,000,000	(33,000,000)	211,000,000
Total benefits, losses and expenses	(11,000,000)	131,000,000	106,000,000	311,000,000
Income before income taxes	8,000,000	2,000,000	26,000,000	99,000,000
Income tax expense	3,000,000	8,000,000	2,000,000	19,000,000
Income (loss) from operations of discontinued operations, net of tax	5,000,000	(6,000,000)	24,000,000	80,000,000
Net realized capital loss on disposal, net of tax	(51,000,000)	0	(51,000,000)	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(46,000,000)	(6,000,000)	(27,000,000)	80,000,000
Hartford Life International Limited [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income tax expense (benefit)			$ 0