Annuity obligations.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Recoverables for Hartford Fire Life, A&H, & Annuity, Contract Guarantees

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Liability as of the balance sheet date for the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims and claim adjustment expense relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date for those liabilities owed to another party as a result of assuming another insurer's primary obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65670824&loc=d3e14764-158437

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (cc)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65670824&loc=d3e14764-158437

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of written premiums ceded to other entities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 605
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486672&loc=d3e27261-158547

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_GroupPoliciesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=hlic_HartfordLifeandAccidentInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=us-gaap_AccidentAndHealthInsuranceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Transactions with Affiliates Level 4 (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Annuity Obligations	$ 699,000,000		$ 699,000,000		$ 711,000,000
Recoverables for Hartford Fire Life, A&H, & Annuity, Contract Guarantees	0		0		0
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Assumed Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	53,000,000		53,000,000		$ 53,000,000
Group Insurance Policies [Member] \| Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	9,000,000	$ 0	15,000,000	$ 0
Accident and Health Insurance Product Line [Member] \| Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ceded Premiums Written	$ 18,000,000	$ 0	$ 36,000,000	$ 0