Stockholders' Equity and Statutory Accounting Practices (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008 Loews [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Continental Casualty Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Continental Casualty Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Continental Casualty Company [Member]
Purchase price for preferred stock				$ 1,250,000,000
Purchase price of surplus note of CCC							1,000,000,000
Term of CCC surplus note							The surplus note of CCC has a term of 30 years and accrues interest at a rate of 10% per year. Interest on the note is payable quarterly.
Interest accrual rate for CCC surplus note							10.00%
Repayment on surplus note of CCC					250,000,000	500,000,000
Outstanding balance of surplus note of CCC					250,000,000
Common stock dividends declared, per share	$ 0.40
Common stock dividends paid, per share	$ 0.40
Dividends payable without prior supervisory approval	$ 990,000,000,000