Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Notes Receivable [Member]	Parent Company [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009		$ 1,000	$ 683	$ 2,177	$ 7,264	$ (325)	$ (109)	$ (30)		$ 506
Net income (loss)	432				388					44
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,530					1,500				30
Dividends paid to Loews Corporation for 2008 Senior Preferred					(68)
Stock-based compensation				1			6
Cumulative effect adjustment from change in accounting guidance, net of tax (Accounting Standards Update 2010-11 [Member])					(2)	2
Redemption of 2008 Senior Preferred Stock		(500)
Other				23						(25)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	12,565	500	683	2,201	7,582	1,177	(103)	(30)	12,010	555
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	11,524		683	2,200	7,876	326	(105)	(26)		570
Net income (loss)	439				424					15
Other comprehensive income (loss)	549					541				8
Dividends paid to common stockholders					(81)
Stock-based compensation				3			3
(Increase) Decrease in notes receivable from the issuance of common stock								4
Acquisition of CNA Surety noncontrolling interest				(60)		19				(434)
Other				1						(11)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 11,956		$ 683	$ 2,144	$ 8,219	$ 886	$ (102)	$ (22)	$ 11,808	$ 148