Statutory Results Level 4 Statutory Results (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Risk Based Capital Requirements Compliance Assertion						The Company and all of its operating insurance subsidiaries had RBC ratios in excess of the minimum levels required by the applicable insurance regulations. The RBC ratios for the Company and its principal life insurance operating subsidiaries were all in excess of 400% of their Company Action Levels as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent			$ 1,000,000,000					$ 1,196,000,000
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency		$ 800				$ 1,000,000,000
Statutory Results [Abstract]
Combined statutory net income						371,000,000	$ 132,000,000	1,290,000,000
Statutory capital						$ 4,939,000,000	$ 5,564,000,000	$ 5,005,000,000
Percent available for dividend distribution without prior approval from regulatory agency						10.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments						$ 0
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Amount Received as Dividend Distribution from Subsidiary				$ 500,000,000
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments with Regulatory Approval					$ 415,000,000
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Hartford Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency					$ 250,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency	$ 500,000,000