Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 07, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 62,976		$ 62,820
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	600		519
Real estate	854		838
Short-term securities	5,024		5,616
Other investments	3,539		2,929
Total investments	72,993		72,722
Cash	273		200	266	255
Investment income accrued	768		791
Premiums receivable	6,043		5,497
Reinsurance recoverables	11,780		11,994
Ceded unearned premiums	802		813
Deferred acquisition costs	1,840		1,782
Deferred tax asset	128		493
Contractholder receivables	5,370		5,343
Goodwill	3,365		3,365
Other intangible assets	465		502
Other assets	2,641		2,154
Total assets	106,468		105,656
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	52,596		51,606
Unearned premium reserves	11,339		10,921
Contractholder payables	5,370		5,343
Payables for reinsurance premiums	409		407
Debt	6,604		6,611
Other liabilities	5,142		5,293
Total liabilities	81,460		80,181
Preferred Stock Savings Plan -- convertible preferred stock			68	72	79
Common stock	20,607		20,162	19,884	19,593
Retained earnings	18,966		18,847	17,285	16,315
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	1,711		1,255	1,690	1,219
Treasury stock, at cost	(16,276)		(14,857)	(12,645)	(9,791)
Total shareholders' equity	25,008		25,475	26,286
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	106,468		105,656
Fixed maturities, available for sale, subject to securities lending	94		186
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	59,767		60,170
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	461		372
Preferred Stock Savings Plan - convertible preferred stock, shares issued	0		200,000
Preferred Stock Savings Plan - convertible preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	190,083	200,000
Common stock, shares authorized	1,748,600,000		1,748,600,000
Common stock, shares issued	419,500,000		434,600,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	419,500,000		434,600,000	470,800,000	520,300,000
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	320,800,000		296,600,000
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	42,712		42,415
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	214		190
Real estate	33		1
Short-term securities	1,704		1,596
Other investments	2,526		1,982
Total investments	47,189		46,184
Cash	85		86	109	132
Investment income accrued	519		532
Premiums receivable	4,037		3,691
Reinsurance recoverables	7,801		7,868
Ceded unearned premiums	596		648
Deferred acquisition costs	1,568		1,511
Deferred tax asset	14		294
Contractholder receivables	4,073		4,050
Goodwill	2,411		2,411
Other intangible assets	312		326
Other assets	2,252		1,904
Total assets	70,857		69,505
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	34,427		33,770
Unearned premium reserves	7,704		7,478
Contractholder payables	4,073		4,050
Payables for reinsurance premiums	204		214
Debt	1,190		1,189
Other liabilities	3,982		3,906
Total liabilities	51,580		50,607
Additional paid-in capital	11,135		11,135
Retained earnings	6,600		6,489
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	1,542		1,274
Total shareholders' equity	19,277		18,898
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	70,857		69,505
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,243		20,385
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	287		263
Real estate	821		837
Short-term securities	941		436
Other investments	1,012		946
Total investments	23,304		22,867
Cash	186		110	156	122
Investment income accrued	249		259
Premiums receivable	2,006		1,806
Reinsurance recoverables	3,979		4,126
Ceded unearned premiums	206		165
Deferred acquisition costs	272		271
Deferred tax asset	86		125
Contractholder receivables	1,297		1,293
Goodwill	954		954
Other intangible assets	153		176
Other assets	58		237
Total assets	32,750		32,389
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	18,169		17,836
Unearned premium reserves	3,635		3,443
Contractholder payables	1,297		1,293
Payables for reinsurance premiums	205		193
Debt			9
Other liabilities	712		1,089
Total liabilities	24,018		23,863
Common stock	390		390
Additional paid-in capital	7,016		7,016
Retained earnings	620		576
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	706		544
Total shareholders' equity	8,732		8,526
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,750		32,389
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	21		20
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	99		66
Short-term securities	2,379		3,584
Other investments	1		1
Total investments	2,500		3,671
Cash	2		4	1	1
Deferred tax asset	28		74
Investment in subsidiaries	27,998		27,422
Other assets	379		60
Total assets	30,907		31,231
Debt	5,462		5,460
Other liabilities	448		298
Total liabilities	5,910		5,758
Preferred Stock Savings Plan -- convertible preferred stock			68
Common stock	20,607		20,162
Retained earnings	18,955		18,845
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	1,711		1,255
Treasury stock, at cost	(16,276)		(14,857)
Total shareholders' equity	24,997		25,473
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	30,907		31,231
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(27,998)		(27,422)
Other assets	(48)		(47)
Total assets	(28,046)		(27,469)
Debt	(48)		(47)
Total liabilities	(48)		(47)
Common stock	(390)		(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(18,151)		(18,151)
Retained earnings	(7,209)		(7,063)
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	(2,248)		(1,818)
Total shareholders' equity	(27,998)		(27,422)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,046)		$ (27,469)