Certain Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts (Summary of the Changes in General Account Liabilities for Guarantees on Variable Contracts) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Net Amount At Risk By Product And Guarantee [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 1,979,330,000		$ 1,268,541,000		$ (216,169,000)
Incurred guarantee benefits	(1,667,655,000)	[1],[2]	765,849,000	[1]	1,526,123,000	[1]
Liabilities For Guarantees On Long Duration Contracts Benefits Paid	(30,544,000)		(55,059,000)		(41,413,000)
Other	1,345,027,000	[2],[3]
Ending balance	1,626,158,000		1,979,330,000		1,268,541,000
Hartford GMDB Assumed	1,500,000,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Variable Annuity [Member]
Net Amount At Risk By Product And Guarantee [Line Items]
Beginning balance	202,067,000		97,635,000		48,829,000
Incurred guarantee benefits	28,033,000	[1],[2]	145,022,000	[1],[2]	87,111,000	[1]
Liabilities For Guarantees On Long Duration Contracts Benefits Paid	(26,306,000)		(40,590,000)		(38,305,000)
Other	4,060,000	[2],[3]
Ending balance	207,854,000		202,067,000		97,635,000
Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit [Member] | Variable Life Variable Universal Life And Universal Life [Member]
Net Amount At Risk By Product And Guarantee [Line Items]
Beginning balance	304,987,000		224,909,000		161,107,000
Incurred guarantee benefits	101,484,000	[1],[2]	94,007,000	[1]	66,082,000	[1]
Liabilities For Guarantees On Long Duration Contracts Benefits Paid	(3,090,000)		(13,929,000)		(2,280,000)
Other	1,340,869,000	[2],[3]
Ending balance	1,744,250,000		304,987,000		224,909,000
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit [Member] | Variable Annuity [Member]
Net Amount At Risk By Product And Guarantee [Line Items]
Beginning balance	54,386,000		33,010,000		26,718,000
Incurred guarantee benefits	(30,882,000)	[1],[2]	21,916,000	[1]	7,120,000	[1]
Liabilities For Guarantees On Long Duration Contracts Benefits Paid	(1,148,000)		(540,000)		(828,000)
Other	98,000	[2],[3]
Ending balance	22,454,000		54,386,000		33,010,000
Guaranteed Minimum Accumulation Withdrawal Income And Withdrawal Benefits [Member] | Variable Annuity [Member]
Net Amount At Risk By Product And Guarantee [Line Items]
Beginning balance	1,417,890,000		912,987,000		(452,823,000)
Incurred guarantee benefits	(1,766,290,000)	[1],[2]	504,903,000	[1]	1,365,810,000	[1]
Liabilities For Guarantees On Long Duration Contracts Benefits Paid	0		0		0
Other	0	[2],[3]
Ending balance	$ (348,400,000)		$ 1,417,890,000		$ 912,987,000

[1] Incurred guarantee benefits include the portion of assessments established as additions to reserves as well as changes in estimates affecting the reserves. Also includes changes in the fair value of features accounted for as embedded derivatives.

[2] Incurred benefits include GMDB liabilities assumed related to the Hartford GUL business, which was subsequently 100% retroceded to PAR Universal.

[3] Includes $1.5 billion related to the initial GMDB liability assumed related to the Hartford business, which was subsequently 100% retroceded to PAR Universal.