2.4.0.82406403 - Disclosure - Reinsurance (Details Textual)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q4YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000045947duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-12-31T00:00:00numberStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0usdStandardhttp://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$1true 1us-gaap_InsuranceAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Insurance [Abstract]2false 2hig_LifeInsuranceRecoveriesOnCededReinsuranceContractshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse302000000302USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse252000000252USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse324000000324USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLife insurance recoveries on ceded reinsurance contracts.No definition available.false2Life insurance recoveries on ceded reinsurance contracts3false 2us-gaap_PremiumIncomeSubjectToParticipationThroughReinsurancePercentageus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truetruefalse0.310.31falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepureRatio of premium income to reinsurance.No definition available.false0Premium income subject to participation through reinsurance, percentage4false 2us-gaap_CededPremiumsWrittenLifeus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse9400000094falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse106000000106falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse129000000129falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums assumed for life insurance policies by another insurer as a result of reinsurance arrangements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -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. false2Ceded premiums written5false 2us-gaap_CededPremiumsWrittenAccidentAndHealthus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse177000000177falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse191000000191falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse205000000205falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums assumed for all accident and health insurance contracts by another insurer as a result of reinsurance arrangements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 17 -Article 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b),(c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -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. false2Ceded premiums written, accident and health6false 2us-gaap_ReinsuranceEffectOnClaimsAndBenefitsIncurredAmountCededus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse5800000058USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse6100000061USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse5400000054USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe reduction in the amount of the provision for the period for claims and benefits incurred on contract risks ceded to other insurers under reinsurance arrangements.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6480758&loc=d3e6811-158387 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27, 113 -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. false2Reinsurance effect on claims and benefits incurred, amount cededfalseReinsurance (Details Textual) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.thehartford.com/role/ReinsuranceDetailsTextual36