2.4.0.82407402 - Disclosure - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits (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$1true 1us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndPresentValueOfFutureProfitsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndPresentValueOfFutureProfitsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodStartLabel1truefalsefalse34480000003448[1]USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse36940000003694[1]USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse43410000004341USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the unamortized portion as of the balance sheet date of (a) capitalized policy acquisition costs, and (b) capitalized present value of the future profits (also known as PVFP).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6784649&loc=d3e569990-122904 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 60 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6967983&loc=d3e11264-158415 false2Balance, beginning of period3false 2us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndPresentValueOfFutureProfitsAdditionsus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse329000000329falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse381000000381falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse381000000381falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAdditions during the period in (a) capitalized policy acquisition costs, and (b) capitalized present value of future profits (also known as PVFP).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6784649&loc=d3e569990-122904 false2Deferred costs4false 2hig_AmortizationDachig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-280000000-280falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-290000000-290falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-244000000-244falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmortization of DAC, excluding unlock.No definition available.false2Amortization — DAC5false 2hig_AmortizationUnlockPreTaxhig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-44000000-44[2]falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-137000000-137[2]falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse134000000134[2]falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDAC Unlock on EGP balances recorded during the period.No definition available.false2Amortization — Unlock benefit (charge), pre-tax6false 2hig_AmortizationDacFromDiscontinuedOperationshig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-35000000-35falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-47000000-47falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-68000000-68falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmortization DAC from Discontinued Operations.No definition available.false2Amortization — DAC from discontinued operations7false 2hig_AdjustmentsToUnrealizedGainsAndLossesOnSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndOtherhig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-346000000-346falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-154000000-154falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-848000000-848falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAdjustments to unrealized gains and losses on securities, available-for-sale and other.No definition available.false2Adjustments to unrealized gains and losses on securities available-for-sale and other8false 2hig_EffectOfCurrencyTranslationAdjustmenthig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse00[3]falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10000001[3]falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-9000000-9[3]falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEffect of currency translation adjustment.No definition available.false2Effect of currency translation9false 2hig_CumulativeEffectOfAccountingChangePreTaxhig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse00[3]falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00[3]falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-7000000-7[3]falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCumulative effect of accounting change, pre tax.No definition available.false2Cumulative effect of accounting change, pre-tax10false 2us-gaap_DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndPresentValueOfFutureProfitsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodEndLabel1truefalsefalse30720000003072[1]falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse34480000003448[1]falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse36940000003694[1]falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the unamortized portion as of the balance sheet date of (a) capitalized policy acquisition costs, and (b) capitalized present value of the future profits (also known as PVFP).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6784649&loc=d3e569990-122904 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 60 -Subparagraph c -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. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6967983&loc=d3e11264-158415 false2Balance, end of period11false 2hig_DispositionOfDacAssethig_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse1600000016USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3400000034USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryA reduction to the deferred policy acquisition cost asset as a result of a business disposition.No definition available.false2Disposition of DAC asset1For further information, see Note 2 - Business Dispositions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.2Primarily represents the effect of declining interest rates, resulting in unrealized gains on securities classified in AOCI.3Other includes a $16 reduction of the DAC asset as a result of the sale of assets used to administer the Company's PPLI business in 2012. The reduction is directly attributable to this transaction as it results in lower future estimated gross profits than originally estimated on these products. For further information regarding this transaction see Note 2 - Business Dispositions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Other also includes a $34 reduction of the DAC asset as a result of the sale of Hartford Investment Canada Corporation in 2010.falseDeferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.thehartford.com/role/DeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndPresentValueOfFutureProfitsDetails311