Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Benefits, losses and expenses
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses	$ 10,948,000,000	$ 13,248,000,000	$ 14,627,000,000
Benefits, losses and loss adjustment expenses — returns credited on international variable annuities	6,060,000,000	4,363,000,000	(1,345,000,000)
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and present value of future profits	2,701,000,000	1,988,000,000	2,444,000,000
Insurance operating costs and other expenses	4,280,000,000	5,204,000,000	5,269,000,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	213,000,000	910,000,000	0
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Reinsurance Loss	1,574,000,000	533,000,000	0
Interest expense	397,000,000	457,000,000	508,000,000
Goodwill impairment	0	0	30,000,000
Total benefits, losses and expenses	26,173,000,000	26,703,000,000	21,533,000,000
Revenues
Earned premiums	13,226,000,000	13,631,000,000	14,088,000,000
Fee income	2,805,000,000	4,386,000,000	4,700,000,000
Net investment income:
Securities available-for-sale and other	3,362,000,000	4,227,000,000	4,263,000,000
Equity securities, trading	6,061,000,000	4,364,000,000	(1,345,000,000)
Total net investment income	9,423,000,000	8,591,000,000	2,918,000,000
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Total other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses	(93,000,000)	(389,000,000)	(263,000,000)
OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”)	20,000,000	40,000,000	89,000,000
Net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(73,000,000)	(349,000,000)	(174,000,000)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business	1,575,000,000	0	0
Net realized capital gains (losses), excluding net OTTI losses recognized in earnings	(995,000,000)	(395,000,000)	(52,000,000)
Total net realized capital losses	507,000,000	(744,000,000)	(226,000,000)
Other revenues	275,000,000	258,000,000	253,000,000
Total revenues	26,236,000,000	26,122,000,000	21,733,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	63,000,000	(581,000,000)	200,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	(247,000,000)	(481,000,000)	(373,000,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	310,000,000	(100,000,000)	573,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(134,000,000)	62,000,000	139,000,000
Net income (loss)	176,000,000	(38,000,000)	712,000,000
Preferred stock dividends	(10,000,000)	(42,000,000)	(42,000,000)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	166,000,000	(80,000,000)	670,000,000
Income from continuing operations, net of tax, available to common shareholders per common share
Basic	$ 0.67	$ (0.32)	$ 1.19
Diluted	$ 0.62	$ (0.32)	$ 1.11
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders per common share
Basic	$ 0.37	$ (0.18)	$ 1.51
Diluted	$ 0.34	$ (0.18)	$ 1.40
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.50	$ 0.40	$ 0.40
Hartford Life International Limited [Member]
Net realized capital gains (losses):
Income tax expense (benefit)	219
Retirement Plans and Individual Life Businesses [Member]
Benefits, losses and expenses
Goodwill impairment	$ 0	$ 0