Schedule II Condensed Financial Information of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. Level 4 Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 1,682	$ 798	$ 176
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21)	0	(213)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	2,756	1,886	1,237
Investing Activities
Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments	3,071	(1,814)	318
Net cash used for investing activities	485	1,696	3,745
Financing Activities
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt			533
Repurchase of warrants	0		(33)
Dividends paid on preferred stock			(21)
Dividends paid on common stock	(316)	(282)	(202)
Net cash used for financing activities	(3,144)	(4,476)	(5,820)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(48)	(135)	(155)
Cash, Period Increase (Decrease)	49	(1,029)	(993)
Cash - beginning of period	399	1,428	2,421
Cash - end of period	448	399	1,428
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid	361	377	402
Parent Company [Member]
Operating Activities
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	1,682	798	176
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(21)	0	(176)
Undistributed earnings (losses) of subsidiaries	(1,924)	(1,120)	(549)
Change in operating assets and liabilities	1,167	3,376	1,170
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	946	3,054	973
Investing Activities
Net sales (purchases) of short-term investments	609	(212)	(454)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries	742	(585)	1,211
Net cash used for investing activities	1,351	(797)	757
Financing Activities
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt	0	0	295
Repurchase of warrants	0	0	(33)
Repayments of long-term debt	(773)	(200)	(1,190)
Treasury stock acquired	(1,250)	(1,796)	(600)
Proceeds and Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	42	21	20
Dividends paid on preferred stock	0	0	(21)
Dividends paid on common stock	(316)	(282)	(201)
Net cash used for financing activities	(2,297)	(2,257)	(1,730)
Cash, Period Increase (Decrease)	0	0	0
Cash - beginning of period	0	0	0
Cash - end of period	0	0	0
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid	351	366	366
Dividends Received from Subsidiaries	$ 1,127	$ 2,589	$ 1,096