Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 07, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 64,000		$ 62,820
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	570		519
Real estate	851		838
Short-term securities	4,797		5,616
Other investments	3,434		2,929
Total investments	73,652		72,722
Cash	231		200	298	255
Investment income accrued	737		791
Premiums receivable	5,932		5,497
Reinsurance recoverables	11,743		11,994
Ceded unearned premiums	922		813
Deferred acquisition costs	1,869		1,782
Deferred taxes			493
Contractholder receivables	5,375		5,343
Goodwill	3,365		3,365
Other intangible assets	449		502
Other assets	2,658		2,154
Total assets	106,933		105,656
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	52,315		51,606
Unearned premium reserves	11,524		10,921
Contractholder payables	5,375		5,343
Payables for reinsurance premiums	519		407
Deferred taxes	91
Debt	6,604		6,611
Other liabilities	5,333		5,293
Total liabilities	81,761		80,181
Preferred Stock Savings Plan -- convertible preferred stock			68	70	79
Common stock	20,664		20,162	19,980	19,593
Retained earnings	19,127		18,847	18,118	16,315
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	2,032		1,255	2,372	1,219
Treasury stock, at cost	(16,651)		(14,857)	(13,245)	(9,791)
Total shareholders' equity	25,172		25,475	27,295
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	106,933		105,656
Fixed maturities, available for sale, subject to securities lending	149		186
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	60,056		60,170
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	467		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	1,750,000,000		1,748,600,000
Common stock, shares issued	412,800,000		434,600,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	412,800,000		434,600,000	460,500,000	520,300,000
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	328,100,000		296,600,000
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	43,327		42,415
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	203		190
Real estate	33		1
Short-term securities	1,542		1,596
Other investments	2,436		1,982
Total investments	47,541		46,184
Cash	106		86	136	132
Investment income accrued	495		532
Premiums receivable	4,000		3,691
Reinsurance recoverables	7,709		7,868
Ceded unearned premiums	750		648
Deferred acquisition costs	1,605		1,511
Deferred taxes			294
Contractholder receivables	4,074		4,050
Goodwill	2,411		2,411
Other intangible assets	305		326
Other assets	2,196		1,904
Total assets	71,192		69,505
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	34,249		33,770
Unearned premium reserves	7,946		7,478
Contractholder payables	4,074		4,050
Payables for reinsurance premiums	281		214
Deferred taxes	154
Debt	1,190		1,189
Other liabilities	4,051		3,906
Total liabilities	51,945		50,607
Additional paid-in capital	11,135		11,135
Retained earnings	6,329		6,489
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	1,783		1,274
Total shareholders' equity	19,247		18,898
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	71,192		69,505
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,651		20,385
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	280		263
Real estate	818		837
Short-term securities	900		436
Other investments	997		946
Total investments	23,646		22,867
Cash	120		110	160	122
Investment income accrued	242		259
Premiums receivable	1,932		1,806
Reinsurance recoverables	4,034		4,126
Ceded unearned premiums	172		165
Deferred acquisition costs	264		271
Deferred taxes			125
Contractholder receivables	1,301		1,293
Goodwill	954		954
Other intangible assets	144		176
Other assets	97		237
Total assets	32,906		32,389
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	18,066		17,836
Unearned premium reserves	3,578		3,443
Contractholder payables	1,301		1,293
Payables for reinsurance premiums	238		193
Deferred taxes	(40)
Debt			9
Other liabilities	817		1,089
Total liabilities	23,960		23,863
Common stock	390		390
Additional paid-in capital	7,026		7,016
Retained earnings	749		576
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	781		544
Total shareholders' equity	8,946		8,526
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,906		32,389
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	22		20
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	87		66
Short-term securities	2,355		3,584
Other investments	1		1
Total investments	2,465		3,671
Cash	5		4	2	1
Deferred taxes			74
Investment in subsidiaries	28,183		27,422
Other assets	413		60
Total assets	31,066		31,231
Deferred taxes	(23)
Debt	5,462		5,460
Other liabilities	465		298
Total liabilities	5,904		5,758
Preferred Stock Savings Plan -- convertible preferred stock			68
Common stock	20,664		20,162
Retained earnings	19,117		18,845
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	2,032		1,255
Treasury stock, at cost	(16,651)		(14,857)
Total shareholders' equity	25,162		25,473
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	31,066		31,231
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(28,183)		(27,422)
Other assets	(48)		(47)
Total assets	(28,231)		(27,469)
Debt	(48)		(47)
Total liabilities	(48)		(47)
Common stock	(390)		(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(18,161)		(18,151)
Retained earnings	(7,068)		(7,063)
Accumulated other changes in equity from nonowner sources	(2,564)		(1,818)
Total shareholders' equity	(28,183)		(27,422)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,231)		$ (27,469)