Discontinued Operations (Details 1) (Hartford Life International Limited [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013
Hartford Life International Limited [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Fixed maturities	$ 444
Equity securities, trading	1,665
Short-term investments	2
Cash	103
Other assets	(273)
Total assets held for sale	1,941
Other policyholder funds and benefits payable – international variable annuities	1,665
Other liabilities	(3)
Total liabilities held for sale	$ 1,662

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Cash

No definition available.

Name:	hlic_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCash
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Equity Securities, Trading

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hlic_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationEquitySecuritiesTrading
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Fxed Maturities Securities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hlic_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationFxedMaturitiesSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Policyholder Funds and Benefits Payable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hlic_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherPolicyholderFundsAndBenefitsPayable
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Short-term Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hlic_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationShorttermInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate value (measured at the lower of net carrying value or fair value less cost of disposal) for assets of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), to be sold or that has been disposed of through sale, as of the financial statement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 46

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets not otherwise specified.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 47

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), obligations not otherwise itemized.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

The obligations arising from the sale, disposal, or planned sale in the near future (generally within one year) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant