Commitments to fund limited partnership and other alternative investments.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Commitments to fund mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Derivative Instrument, Collateral Payment, Preventing Termination

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unfunded commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate fair value of assets that are already posted, at the end of the reporting period, as collateral for derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4H

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

The aggregate fair value amounts of derivative instruments that contain credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position at the end of the reporting period. For nonderivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the fair value amounts are the carrying value of the nonderivative hedging instrument, including the adjustment for the foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on that instrument.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4H

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624258-113959

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

The amount of insurance-related assessment liability that is expected to be recovered through a premium tax offset based on current laws applied to in-force policies.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 405

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392405&loc=d3e24119-109301

+ Details

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

- Definition

The present value of the liability as of the balance sheet date representing required funding mandated by statute or regulatory authority that is related directly or indirectly to underwriting activities, including pools for self-insurance and excluding premium taxes and income taxes. The funds derived from the assessments generally enable a government guarantor to pay insurance claims in the event that the underwriting insurer is insolvent or otherwise unable to meet its payment obligations.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis=hlic_GmwbProductDerivativesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies Level 4 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies Level 4 (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Leases [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	$ 7,000,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 2,000,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	$ 17,000,000us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Unfunded Commitments [Abstract]
Unfunded Commitments	314,000,000hlic_UnfundedCommitments
Commitments to Fund Limited Partnership and Other Alternative Investments	220,000,000
Commitments to Fund Mortgage Loans	91,000,000hlic_CommitmentsToFundMortgageLoans
Guaranty Fund [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Discounted Amount of Insurance-related Assessment Liability	15,000,000	21,000,000
Loss Contingency Accrual, Insurance-related Assessment, Premium Tax Offset	27,000,000	27,000,000
Derivative Liability [Abstract]
Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value	801,000,000
Collateral Already Posted, Aggregate Fair Value	1,000,000,000
GMWB Product Derivatives [Member]
Derivative Liability [Abstract]
Derivative Instrument, Collateral Payment, Preventing Termination	$ 41,000,000