Discontinued Operations Operation Assets of Heritage Labs and Hooper Holmes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on sale of subsidiaries, net of adjustments	$ 0	$ 1,354	$ 0	$ 1,204
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ (57)	(1,385)	$ (82)	(2,117)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		2,099		11,411
Cost of Sales		1,896		9,756
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses		2,544		4,509
(Loss) income from Discontinued Operations		(2,341)		(2,854)
Loss on sale of subsidiaries, net of adjustments		1,354		1,204
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(1,385)		(2,117)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Heritage Labs [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		405		4,122
Cost of Sales		529		3,511
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses		179		462
(Loss) income from Discontinued Operations		(302)		150
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Hooper Holmes Services [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues		1,694		7,289
Cost of Sales		1,367		6,245
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses		975		2,657
(Loss) income from Discontinued Operations		(649)		(1,614)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Tail Coverage Insurance Expense [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Selling, General & Administrative Expenses		1,390		1,390
(Loss) income from Discontinued Operations		(1,390)		(1,390)
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Portamedic Service Line [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
(Loss) income from Discontinued Operations		$ (398)		$ (467)