2.4.0.82410402 - Disclosure - Sales Inducements (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$1true 2us-gaap_MovementInDeferredSalesInducementsRollForwardus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Changes in deferred sales inducement2false 3us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNetus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodStartLabel1truefalsefalse186000000186USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse197000000197USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse194000000194USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 03-1 -Paragraph 39 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 false2Balance, beginning of period3false 3us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsAdditionsus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-6000000-6falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-10000000-10falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 03-1 -Paragraph 39 -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. false2Sales inducements deferred4false 3hig_AmortizationUnlockhig_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedLabel1truefalsefalse-59000000-59falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-9000000-9falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmortization unlock.No definition available.false2Amortization—Unlock5false 3us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsAmortizationExpenseus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedTerseLabel1truefalsefalse-13000000-13falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-13000000-13falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 03-1 -Paragraph 39 -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. false2Amortization charged to income6false 3us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNetus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodEndLabel1truefalsefalse118000000118USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse186000000186USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse197000000197USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 03-1 -Paragraph 39 -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 false2Balance, end of periodfalseSales Inducements (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.thehartford.com/role/SalesInducementsDetails36