General	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
General	Note A. General Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) include the accounts of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF) and its subsidiaries. Collectively, CNAF and its subsidiaries are referred to as CNA or the Company. Loews Corporation (Loews) owned approximately 90% of the outstanding common stock of CNAF as of September 30, 2014. The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement notes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in CNAF's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2013, including the summary of significant accounting policies in Note A. The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates. The interim financial data as of September 30, 2014 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company's results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Intercompany amounts have been eliminated. Sale of Continental Assurance Company (CAC) On August 1, 2014, the Company completed the sale of the common stock of CAC. The sale price is subject to a customary post-closing review by the purchaser. The business sold, which was previously reported within the Life & Group Non-Core segment, is reported as discontinued operations. Further information is provided in Note M to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In connection with the sale of CAC, the Company entered into a 100% coinsurance agreement on a separate small block of annuity business outside of CAC. The coinsurance agreement required the transfer of assets with a book value equal to the ceded reserves on the inception date of the contract. Because a substantial portion of the assets supporting these liabilities are held in trust for the benefit of the original cedant, those assets were transferred on a funds withheld basis. Under this approach the Company maintains legal ownership of the assets, but the investment income and realized gains and losses on those assets inure to the reinsurer. As a result, the $34 million difference between market value and book value of the funds withheld assets at the coinsurance contract's inception was recognized as a loss in Other operating expenses. The funds withheld aspect of the agreement is considered an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative is separately accounted for at fair value and reported with the host contract in Other liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company recognizes Other operating expense equal to the Net investment income generated by these trust assets.

Note A. General

Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) include the accounts of CNA Financial Corporation (CNAF) and its subsidiaries. Collectively, CNAF and its subsidiaries are referred to as CNA or the Company. Loews Corporation (Loews) owned approximately 90% of the outstanding common stock of CNAF as of September 30, 2014.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statement notes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in CNAF's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 2013, including the summary of significant accounting policies in Note A. The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

The interim financial data as of September 30, 2014 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company's results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Intercompany amounts have been eliminated.

Sale of Continental Assurance Company (CAC)

On August 1, 2014, the Company completed the sale of the common stock of CAC. The sale price is subject to a customary post-closing review by the purchaser. The business sold, which was previously reported within the Life & Group Non-Core segment, is reported as discontinued operations. Further information is provided in Note M to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In connection with the sale of CAC, the Company entered into a 100% coinsurance agreement on a separate small block of annuity business outside of CAC. The coinsurance agreement required the transfer of assets with a book value equal to the ceded reserves on the inception date of the contract. Because a substantial portion of the assets supporting these liabilities are held in trust for the benefit of the original cedant, those assets were transferred on a funds withheld basis. Under this approach the Company maintains legal ownership of the assets, but the investment income and realized gains and losses on those assets inure to the reinsurer. As a result, the $34 million difference between market value and book value of the funds withheld assets at the coinsurance contract's inception was recognized as a loss in Other operating expenses. The funds withheld aspect of the agreement is considered an embedded derivative. The embedded derivative is separately accounted for at fair value and reported with the host contract in Other liabilities on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company recognizes Other operating expense equal to the Net investment income generated by these trust assets.