Reinsurance (tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Reinsurance disclosure

Summary of reinsurance financial data [Table Text Block]

(for the year ended December 31, in millions)	2012			2011			2010
Written premiums
Direct	$	23,614		$	23,220		$	22,634
Assumed		695			667			668
Ceded		(1,862	)		(1,700	)		(1,667	)
Total net written premiums	$	22,447		$	22,187		$	21,635
Earned premiums
Direct	$	23,509		$	23,146		$	22,533
Assumed		691			641			664
Ceded		(1,843	)		(1,697	)		(1,765	)
Total net earned premiums	$	22,357		$	22,090		$	21,432
Percentage of assumed earned premiums to net earned premiums		3.1	%		2.9	%		3.1	%
Ceded claims and claim adjustment expenses incurred	$	1,357		$	737		$	404

Reinsurance recoverables [Table Text Block]

(at December 31, in millions)	2012			2011
Gross reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses	$	5,256		$	6,255
Allowance for uncollectible reinsurance		(258	)		(345	)
Net reinsurance recoverables		4,998			5,910
Mandatory pools and associations		2,549			2,020
Structured settlements		3,165			3,225
Total reinsurance recoverables	$	10,712		$	11,155