2.4.0.82405403 - Disclosure - Investments and Derivative Instruments (Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q4YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$D2011Q4YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-12-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$D2010Q4YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 4hig_NetRealizedCapitalGainsLossesAbstracthig_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Net realized capital gains (losses)2false 5us-gaap_GainOnDerivativeInstrumentsPretaxus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse478000000478USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse400000000400USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse482000000482USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate gain on all derivative instruments recognized in earnings during the period, before tax effects.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 false2Gross gains on sales3false 5us-gaap_LossOnDerivativeInstrumentsPretaxus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-278000000-278USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-200000000-200USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-336000000-336USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate loss on all derivative instruments charged against earnings during the period, before tax effects.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5618551-113959 false2Gross losses on sales4false 5hig_NetOttiLossesRecognizedInEarningshig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-255000000-255[1]USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-125000000-125[1]USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-336000000-336[1]USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryOther-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) losses net of OTTI losses transferred to other comprehensive income, recognized in earnings.No definition available.false2Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings5false 5hig_ValuationAllowancesOnMortgageLoanshig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse40000004USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2500000025USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-108000000-108USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValuation allowances on mortgage loans.No definition available.false2Valuation allowances on mortgage loans6false 5hig_FixedAnnuityContractHedgesNethig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-36000000-36[2]USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse30000003[2]USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2700000027[2]USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFixed annuity contract hedges, net.No definition available.false2Japanese fixed annuity contract hedges, net7false 5hig_PeriodicNetCouponSettlementsOnCreditDerivativeshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-8000000-8USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-3000000-3USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPeriodic net coupon settlements on credit derivatives.No definition available.false2Periodic net coupon settlements on credit derivatives/Japan8false 5hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse179000000179USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-613000000-613USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-356000000-356USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryResults of variable annuity hedge program.No definition available.false2Results of variable annuity hedge program9false 5hig_AggregateResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse-966000000-966USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2600000026USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-357000000-357USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal results of variable annuity hedge program.No definition available.false2Total results of variable annuity hedge program10false 5hig_GainLossOnReinsuranceRecoverableshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse12330000001233USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-326000000-326USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-769000000-769USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGain (Loss) on Reinsurance RecoverablesNo definition available.false2GMIB/GMAB/GMWB reinsurance11false 5hig_GainLossOnCoinsuranceAndModifiedCoinsuranceReinsuranceContractshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse-1901000000-1901USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse375000000375USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse292000000292USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryGain (Loss) on Coinsurance and Modified Coinsurance Reinsurance ContractsNo definition available.false2Coinsurance and modified coinsurance reinsurance contracts12false 5hig_OtherNetRealizedCapitalGainsLosseshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse248000000248[3]USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-255000000-255[3]USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse195000000195[3]USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryOther net realized capital gains losses.No definition available.false2Other, net13false 5us-gaap_RealizedInvestmentGainsLossesus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-1481000000-1481USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-77000000-77USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-913000000-913USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net realized gains or losses on investments during the period, not including gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.3(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 325 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485959&loc=d3e22529-158502 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a -Article 7 false2Net realized capital (losses)14false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4false USDtruefalse$D2012Q4YTD_hig_CountriesAxis_country_US_hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_hig_GmwbDerivativesNetMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]hig_CountriesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicountry_UShig_CountriesAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseGMWB derivatives, net [Member]hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihig_GmwbDerivativesNetMemberhig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0U.S. [Member] | GMWB derivatives, net [Member]15true 4hig_NetRealizedCapitalGainsLossesAbstracthig_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Net realized capital gains (losses)16false 5hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse519000000519USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-397000000-397USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse8900000089USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryResults of variable annuity hedge program.No definition available.false2Results of variable annuity hedge program17false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse7false USDtruefalse$D2012Q4YTD_hig_CountriesAxis_country_US_hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis_hig_MacroHedgeProgramMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]hig_CountriesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicountry_UShig_CountriesAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseMacro Hedge Program [Member]hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihig_MacroHedgeProgramMemberhig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramByDerivativeInstrumentRiskAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0U.S. [Member] | Macro Hedge Program [Member]18true 4hig_NetRealizedCapitalGainsLossesAbstracthig_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Net realized capital gains (losses)19false 5hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-340000000-340USD$falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-216000000-216USD$falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-445000000-445USD$falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryResults of variable annuity hedge program.No definition available.false2Results of variable annuity hedge program20false 0truefalsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse10false USDtruefalse$D2012Q4YTD_hig_CountriesAxis_hig_InternationalMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational [Member]hig_CountriesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldihig_InternationalMemberhig_CountriesAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$nanafalse0International [Member]21true 4hig_NetRealizedCapitalGainsLossesAbstracthig_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Net realized capital gains (losses)22false 5hig_ResultsOfVariableAnnuityHedgeProgramhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-1145000000-1145USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse639000000639USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse-1000000-1USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryResults of variable annuity hedge program.No definition available.false2Results of variable annuity hedge program1Includes $173 of intent-to-sell impairments relating to the sale of the Retirement Plans and Individual Life businesses.2Relates to the Japanese fixed annuity products (adjustment of product liability for changes in spot currency exchange rates, related derivative hedging instruments, excluding net period coupon settlements, and Japan FVO securities).3Primarily consists of non-qualifying derivatives, transactional foreign currency re-valuation associated with the internal reinsurance of the Japan variable annuity business, which is offset in AOCI, and Japan 3Win related foreign currency swaps.falseInvestments and Derivative Instruments (Net Realized Capital Gains (Losses)) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.thehartford.com/role/InvestmentsAndDerivativeInstrumentsNetRealizedCapitalGainsLossesDetails322