Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Costs paid to sell business				$ 700
Gain (loss) on sale of business				0	$ 739	$ 3,430
Agreement period		5 years
Additional agreement period		5 years
Amount of cash received				0	743	6,053
Revenues				177	11,682	24,989
Retroactive tail coverage insurance policies expense					1,400
Payments for tail coverage insurance policies during the period					600
Payments for tail coverage insurance policies scheduled for 2015				0	810
Change in liabilities					60	80
Heritage Labs and Hooper Holmes Services [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Operating cash flow from discontinued operations					1,300
Changes in working capital from discontinued operations					1,200
Strategic Alliance Agreement Assets [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration amount		$ 3,500
Net book value of assets to be sold		1,000
Inventory		300
Property, plant and equipment		$ 700
Costs paid to sell business					800
Gain (loss) on sale of business					1,700
Strategic Alliance Agreement Assets [Member] | Assets Held-for-sale [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Inventory						800
Property, plant and equipment						800
Hooper Holmes Services [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenues				0	7,289	14,622
Non-cash operating activities					200
Non-cash charge for remaining operating lease payments					1,000
Portamedic Service Line [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Consideration amount			$ 8,400
Gain (loss) on sale of business				(100)
Amount of cash received			8,100	230	$ 700	6,100
Contingent liability				$ 300
Holdback amount			$ 2,000
Financial advisory, legal and accounting fees						1,000
Holdback amount, component one							$ 1,000
Holdback adjustment amount	$ 400
Revenues						66,500
Income taxes related to operations of Portamedic						$ 100