Percent Available for Dividend Distribution without Prior Approval from Regulatory Agency

No definition available.

Name:	hlic_PercentAvailableForDividendDistributionWithoutPriorApprovalFromRegulatoryAgency
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Statutory Results [Abstract]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hlic_StatutoryResultsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hlic_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from parent as a source of financing that is recorded as additional paid in capital.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of dividends paid subject to regulatory approval.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesDividendsPaidWithApprovalOfRegulatoryAgency
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Indicates whether the entity has met its capital adequacy needs as defined by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as risk based capital requirements, and, if not met, a disclosure of the regulatory based capital level at which the entity is operating, and describes any uncertainties of the ultimate outcome of the entity's RBC position and management's plan with respect thereto, and currently imposed regulatory restrictions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24790-158529

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of dividends that can be declared or paid without approval of regulatory agency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country.

+ References

Reference 1: 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(a)(23)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesStatutoryNetIncomeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=hlic_HartfordLifeIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesByJurisdictionAxis=us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=hlic_HartfordLifeInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=hlic_HartfordLifeAndAnnuityInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Statutory Results Level 4 Statutory Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 22, 2017
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, 2016 and 2015.	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
Proceeds from Contributions from Parent				$ 271
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency		$ 750	$ 0	800
Statutory Results [Abstract]
Combined statutory net income		349	371	132
Statutory capital		$ 4,398	4,939	$ 5,564
Percent available for dividend distribution without prior approval from regulatory agency		10.00%
Hartford Life Inc [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency		$ 0
Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments with Regulatory Approval			$ 415
Scenario, Forecast [Member] \| Hartford Life Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Dividends Paid with Approval of Regulatory Agency	$ 300
Scenario, Forecast [Member] \| Subsidiaries [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments with Regulatory Approval					$ 345
Scenario, Forecast [Member] \| Subsidiaries [Member] \| Parent Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments with Regulatory Approval					1,000
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments with Regulatory Approval					$ 300