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Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies Level 4 (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 16, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]          
Business Acquisition, Transaction Costs         $ 170
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block] On January 1, 2016 the Company adopted new consolidation guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). The updates revise when to consolidate variable interest entities ("VIEs") and general partners’ investments in limited partnerships, end the deferral granted for applying the VIE guidance to certain investment companies, and reduce the number of circumstances where a decision maker’s or service provider’s fee arrangement is deemed to be a variable interest in an entity. The updates also modify guidance for determining whether limited partnerships are VIEs or voting interest entities. The new guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements though one investment in a hedge fund of funds that was previously consolidated as a voting interest entity is now consolidated as a VIE.        
HIG_Accounting Standards Update 2016_09 [Member]          
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]          
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance on accounting for share-based payments to employees. The updated guidance requires the excess tax benefit or deficiency on vesting or settlement of awards to be recognized in earnings as an income tax benefit or expense, respectively. This recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies will result in earnings volatility as current accounting guidance recognizes these amounts as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital.        
HIG_Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] [Member]          
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]          
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description In February 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance on lease accounting. Under the new guidance, lessees with operating leases will be required to recognize a liability for the present value of future minimum lease payments with a corresponding asset for the right of use of the property. Under existing guidance, future minimum lease payments on operating leases are commitments that are not recognized as liabilities on the balance sheet. The updated guidance is to be adopted effective January 1, 2019 through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings for the earliest period presented, with early application permitted. Leases will be classified as financing or operating leases similar to capital and operating leases, respectively, under current accounting guidance. Where the lease is economically similar to a purchase because The Hartford obtains control of the underlying asset, the lease will be a financing lease and the Company will recognize amortization of the right of use asset and interest expense on the liability. Where the lease provides The Hartford with only the right to control the use of the underlying asset over the lease term and the lease term is greater than one year, the lease will be an operating lease and the amortization and interest cost will be recognized as rental expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis. Leases with a term of one year or less will also be expensed over the lease term but will not be recognized on the balance sheet. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the new guidance to the consolidated financial statements, including the timing of adoption. We do not expect a material impact to the consolidated financial statements; however, it is expected that assets and liabilities will increase based on the present value of remaining lease payments for leases in place at the adoption date.        
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]          
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]          
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation $ 24 $ 26 $ 0 $ 0