Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssetAverage
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

High-end of the range used for the spread of additional basis points over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate for the GMIB Asset to reflect non-performance risk of the external retrocessionaires

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssetHigh
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Low-end of the range used for the spread of additional basis points over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate for the GMIB Asset to reflect the non-performance risk of the external retrocessionaires

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssetLow
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average used for the spread of additional basis points over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate for the GMIB liability to reflect the Company's non-performance risk.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsLiablityAverage
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

High-end of the range used for the spread of additional basis points over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate for the GMIB Liability to reflect the Company's non-performance risk

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsLiablityHigh
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Low-end of the range used for the spread of additional basis points over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate for the GMIB Liability to reflect the Company's non-performance risk

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AdditionalSpreadOverLiborGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsLiablityLow
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Annual percentage improvement in the mortality assumption percentage of the 1994 Group Annuity Mortality table used in the calculation for Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits liability.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_AnnualPercentImprovementTableGroupAnnuityMortality
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ci_AssumptionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The liability as of the balance sheet date to the policyholders for deposits held under the terms of insurance contracts. This excludes universal life products.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_ContractholderDepositFundsExcludingUniversalLifeProducts
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ci_FairValueDisclosuresForFinancialInstrumentsNotCarriedAtFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ci_FairValueMeasurementsTextDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the high end of the range of the Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of bond funds used to calculate guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsBondFundVolatilityRateHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the low end of the range of the Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of bond funds used to calculate guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsBondFundVolatilityRateLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Anticipated rate of future terminations of contracts in force as of the balance sheet date at the weighted average in the Company's range of estimates, which is included in determining the amount of the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsByProductAndGuaranteeLapseRateAverage
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Anticipated rate of future terminations of contracts in force as of the balance sheet date at the high end of the Company's range of estimates, which is included in determinig the amount of the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsByProductAndGuaranteeLapseRateHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Anticipated rate of future terminations of contracts in force as of the balance sheet date at the low end of the Company's range of estimates, which is included in determinig the amount of the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsByProducTandGuaranteeLapseRateLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Actuarially determined death rate of policyholders, which is included in determining the amount of the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsByProductAndGuaranteeMortalityRate
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the high end of the range of the Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of equity funds used to calculate guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsEquityFundVolatilityRateHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the low end of the range of the Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of equity funds used to calculate guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsEquityFundVolatilityRateLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Interest rate projected for future time periods that is indexed to the 7-year treasury rate and used to calculate the reinsured income benefits upon annuitization

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsGuaranteedClaimInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the high end of the range ofthe Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of money market funds used to calculate the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsMoneyMarketFundVolatilityRateHighEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage rate at the low end of the range of the Company's estimates that is indicative of an expected degree of movement against a base line index, and which is included in determining the amount of money market funds used to calculate the guaranteed minimum income benefit assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsMoneyMarketFundVolatilityRateLowEnd
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Assumed return on capital required by a hypothetical market participant to reflect the risk and profit charge.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsAssumptionsRequiredReturnOnCapital
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Contractually guaranteed floor for the claim interest rate used in the calculation for Guraranteed Minimum Income Benefits liability.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsContractuallyGuaranteedClaimInterestRateFloor
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount of the change in fair value of the net GMIB liability less cash settled in the period for reinsurance on Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit contracts.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_GuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefitsExpense
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Long term debt outstanding including the portion maturing within one year. This excludes capital lease debt.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_LongTermDebtIncludingCurrentMaturitiesExcludingCapitalLeases
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of mutual fund investments modeled based on other indices with insufficient market-observable data used in the calculation for the Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefits liability.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_MutualFundInvestmentsPercentModeledOnInsufficientMarketObservableData
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Interest rate and foreign currency swaps qualifying as cash flow hedges included in Other derivative assets

No definition available.

Name:	ci_OtherDerivativeInterestRateAndForeignCurrencySwapHedges
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Interest rate swaps not qualifying as cash flow hedges included in Other derivative assets

No definition available.

Name:	ci_OtherDerivativeInterestRateSwapNotHedges
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Pension plan assets included in non-guaranteed separate account assets classified as Level 3.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PensionPlanAssetsIncludedInLevel3NonGuaranteedSeparateAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Pension plan assets included in non-guaranteed separate account assets.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PensionPlanAssetsIncludedInNonGuaranteedSeparateAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The percentage of total investments represented by by impaired commercial mortgage loans and real estate entities

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentageOfImpairedCommercialMortgageLoansAndRealEstateEntitiesOfTotalInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of investments in fixed maturities and equity securities classified in Level 2

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentLevel2FixedMaturitiesEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of Level 2 investments representing foreign bonds priced using a single unadjusted market-observable input derived by averaging multiple broker-dealer quotes.

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentLevel2InvestmentsForeignBondsBrokerQuote
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of investments in fixed maturities and equity securities classified in Level 3

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentLevel3FixedMaturitiesEquitySecurities
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage of GMIB exposure covered by retrocessional coverage

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentReinsuredExternallyGuaranteedMinimumIncomeBenefits
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percent of contractholder deposit funds that can be withdrawn at any time

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PercentUnrestrictedContractholderDepositFunds
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Policyholder gains or losses attributable to instruments still held included in total Policyholder gains (losses)

No definition available.

Name:	ci_PolicyholderGainsLossesAttributableToInstrumentsStillHeld
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Assumed probability percentage that an individual will annuitize a variable annuity contract immediately after waiting period expiration

No definition available.

Name:	ci_ProbabilityOfAnnuitizingVariableAnnuityImmediatelyAfterWaitingPeriodExpiration
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Assumed probability percentage that an individual will annuitize a variable annuity contract in the second or subsequent annual benefit opportunities

No definition available.

Name:	ci_ProbabilityOfAnnuitizingVariableAnnuityInSecondAnnualBenefitOpportunity
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Realized investment losses on write-downs of commercial mortgage loans

No definition available.

Name:	ci_RealizedInvestmentLossesCommercialMortgageLoans
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Realized investment losses on write-downs of commercial mortgage loans and real estate entities, after-tax

No definition available.

Name:	ci_RealizedInvestmentLossesCommercialMortgageLoansAndRealEstateEntities
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Appreciation of securities classified in Level 3 required to adjust future policy benefits for run-off settlement annuity business included in fixed maturities

No definition available.

Name:	ci_UnrealizedAppreciationLevel3SettlementAnnuity
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Net appreciation required to adjust future policy benefits for run-off settlement annuity business included in fixed maturities

No definition available.

Name:	ci_UnrealizedAppreciationSettlementAnnuity
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Weighted average of the assumed probability that an individual will annuitize a variable annuity contract

No definition available.

Name:	ci_WeightedAverageAnnualAnnuityElectionRate
Namespace Prefix:	ci_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Reflects the sum of the gross carrying amounts of unpaid loans issued to businesses to acquire, develop, construct, improve, or refinance land or a building. Includes [but is not limited to] commercial mortgage loans, which are secured by a [legal] security interest in real property [commercial building or business real property] which thereby serves as collateral securing repayment of the loan; and construction financing, which is an obligation generally in the form of a [promissory] note, used for the funding of construction projects.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Chapter 8

-Paragraph 51, 52, 53

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5066-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 60

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 01-6

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph a

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910