Transactions with Affiliates Level 4 (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 01, 2014	Jan. 02, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed Premiums Earned										$ 113,000,000	$ 74,000,000	$ 13,000,000
Annuity Obligations	$ 746,000,000				$ 776,000,000					746,000,000	776,000,000
Recoverables for Hartford Fire Life, A&H, & Annuity, Contract Guarantees	0									0
Fixed annuities transfered from HLIKK to HLIC and HLAI					1,600,000,000						1,600,000,000	2,600,000,000
Net Amount at Risk by Product and Guarantee, Net Amount at Risk	3,567,000,000									3,567,000,000
Liabilities	167,188,000,000				182,484,000,000					167,188,000,000	182,484,000,000
Funds Held under Reinsurance Agreements, Liability															$ 691,000,000
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net										92,000,000	32,000,000	184,000,000
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)										(146,000,000)	577,000,000	326,000,000
Revenues	499,000,000	$ 630,000,000	$ 702,000,000	$ 668,000,000	682,000,000	$ 789,000,000	$ 1,396,000,000	$ 495,000,000		2,499,000,000	3,362,000,000	3,655,000,000
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net										1,402,000,000	1,460,000,000	1,758,000,000
Operating Expenses										524,000,000	851,000,000	(401,000,000)
Total benefits, losses and expenses	525,000,000	500,000,000	461,000,000	483,000,000	525,000,000	699,000,000	826,000,000	451,000,000		1,969,000,000	2,501,000,000	3,094,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest										530,000,000	861,000,000	561,000,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)										30,000,000	184,000,000	49,000,000
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax												(41,000,000)
Net income	7,000,000	$ 118,000,000	$ 230,000,000	$ 145,000,000	130,000,000	$ 91,000,000	$ 399,000,000	$ 57,000,000		500,000,000	677,000,000	471,000,000
Reinsurance Recoverables	20,499,000,000				20,053,000,000					20,499,000,000	20,053,000,000
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party									$ 347,000,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal										28,000,000	23,000,000	(1,491,000,000)
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) On Disposal, Net Of Tax									224,000,000
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	53,000,000				54,000,000					53,000,000	54,000,000
Assumed Premiums Earned										3,000,000	3,000,000	8,000,000
White River Life Reinsurance [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss on Contract Termination											213,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination											213,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Funds Held under Reinsurance Agreements, Liability														$ 310,000,000
Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company [Member] | White River Life Reinsurance [Member]
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net											(5,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Realized Investment Gains (Losses)											(103,000,000)	(1,665,000,000)
Revenues											(108,000,000)	(1,696,000,000)
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Net											(1,000,000)	(8,000,000)
Operating Expenses											(4,000,000)	(1,158,000,000)
Costs and Expenses											(5,000,000)	(1,166,000,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest											(103,000,000)	(530,000,000)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)											(36,000,000)	(185,000,000)
Net income											(67,000,000)	(345,000,000)
White River Life Reinsurance [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Surplus Notes													$ 655,000,000
Capital													$ 367,000,000
HLAI [Member]
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal									$ 344,000,000
Group Insurance Policies [Member] | Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written										0	0	0
Accident and Health Insurance Product Line [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed Premiums Earned										0	0	0
Schedule of Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Premiums Earned, Net										62,000,000	120,000,000	109,000,000
Accident and Health Insurance Product Line [Member] | Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written										0	0	$ 0
Reported Value Measurement [Member] | JAPAN | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Investment Contracts [Member] | Hartford Life Insurance K.K. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Liabilities	$ 619,000,000				$ 763,000,000					$ 619,000,000	$ 763,000,000