Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	14. Income Taxes Income Tax Expense The Company used the Annual Effective Tax Rate ("ETR") approach of ASC 740-270, Interim Reporting, to calculate its 2019 interim tax provision. Income tax was an expense of $1.2 million and $9.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax expense recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2019 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities offset by a benefit from the release of the valuation allowance of the Insurance segment due to an increase in current year income. The income tax expense recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2018 relates primarily to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities. The income tax expense generated from the sale of BeneVir was offset by tax attributes for which a valuation allowance had been recorded. Income tax was an expense of $5.2 million and $11.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax expense recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2019 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities offset by a benefit from the release of the valuation allowance of the Insurance segment due to an increase in current year income. Additionally, the tax benefits associated with losses generated by the HC2 Holdings, Inc. U.S. consolidated income tax return and certain other businesses have been reduced by a full valuation allowance as we do not believe it is more-likely-than-not that the losses will be utilized prior to expiration. The income tax expense recorded for June 30, 2018 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities. The income tax expense generated from the sale of BeneVir was offset by tax attributes for which a valuation allowance had been recorded. Additionally, no benefit is recognized on the losses of the HC2 U.S. tax consolidated group and the losses of their subsidiaries as valuation allowances are recorded on the deferred tax assets of these companies. As a result of the enactment of Public Law 115-97, known informally as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) on December 22, 2017, we are subject to several provisions of the TCJA including computations under Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) and the interest limitation rules. We have included the impact of each of these provisions in our overall tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Unrecognized Tax Benefits The Company follows the provision of ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, which prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. The Company is subject to challenge from various taxing authorities relative to certain tax planning strategies, including certain intercompany transactions as well as regulatory taxes. Examinations The Company conducts business globally, and as a result, the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. The open tax years contain matters that could be subject to differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, character, timing or inclusion of revenue and expenses or the applicability of income tax credits for the relevant tax period. Given the nature of tax audits there is a risk that disputes may arise. Tax years 2002 - 2018 remain open for examination.

14. Income Taxes

Income Tax Expense

The Company used the Annual Effective Tax Rate ("ETR") approach of ASC 740-270, Interim Reporting, to calculate its 2019 interim tax provision.

Income tax was an expense of $1.2 million and $9.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax expense recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2019 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities offset by a benefit from the release of the valuation allowance of the Insurance segment due to an increase in current year income. The income tax expense recorded for the three months ended June 30, 2018 relates primarily to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities. The income tax expense generated from the sale of BeneVir was offset by tax attributes for which a valuation allowance had been recorded.

Income tax was an expense of $5.2 million and $11.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax expense recorded for the six months ended June 30, 2019 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities offset by a benefit from the release of the valuation allowance of the Insurance segment due to an increase in current year income. Additionally, the tax benefits associated with losses generated by the HC2 Holdings, Inc. U.S. consolidated income tax return and certain other businesses have been reduced by a full valuation allowance as we do not believe it is more-likely-than-not that the losses will be utilized prior to expiration. The income tax expense recorded for June 30, 2018 relates to the projected expense as calculated under ASC 740 for taxpaying entities. The income tax expense generated from the sale of BeneVir was offset by tax attributes for which a valuation allowance had been recorded. Additionally, no benefit is recognized on the losses of the HC2 U.S. tax consolidated group and the losses of their subsidiaries as valuation allowances are recorded on the deferred tax assets of these companies.

As a result of the enactment of Public Law 115-97, known informally as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) on December 22, 2017, we are subject to several provisions of the TCJA including computations under Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”) and the interest limitation rules. We have included the impact of each of these provisions in our overall tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The Company follows the provision of ASC 740-10, Income Taxes, which prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. The Company is subject to challenge from various taxing authorities relative to certain tax planning strategies, including certain intercompany transactions as well as regulatory taxes.

Examinations

The Company conducts business globally, and as a result, the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities throughout the world. The open tax years contain matters that could be subject to differing interpretations of applicable tax laws and regulations as they relate to the amount, character, timing or inclusion of revenue and expenses or the applicability of income tax credits for the relevant tax period. Given the nature of tax audits there is a risk that disputes may arise. Tax years 2002 - 2018 remain open for examination.