Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Statement of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Premiums	$ 5,523	$ 5,371
Net investment income	740	779
Fee income	82	74
Net realized investment gains (losses)	10	20
Other revenues	37	34
Total revenues	6,392	6,278
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	3,364	3,382
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	971	948
General and administrative expenses	884	883
Interest expense	96	96
Total claims and expenses	5,315	5,309
Income before income taxes	1,077	969
Income tax expense (benefit)	271	130
Net income	806	839
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)		2
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	(4)	(6)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(4)	(4)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	14	24
TPC [Member]
Premiums	3,743	3,625
Net investment income	494	532
Fee income	82	74
Net realized investment gains (losses)	12	9
Other revenues	27	30
Total revenues	4,358	4,270
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	2,272	2,234
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	646	626
General and administrative expenses	599	596
Interest expense	18	18
Total claims and expenses	3,535	3,474
Income before income taxes	823	796
Income tax expense (benefit)	205	196
Net income	618	600
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)	1	2
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	(4)	(5)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(3)	(3)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	15	12
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Premiums	1,780	1,746
Net investment income	244	244
Net realized investment gains (losses)	(2)	12
Other revenues	10	4
Total revenues	2,032	2,006
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	1,092	1,148
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	325	322
General and administrative expenses	282	290
Total claims and expenses	1,699	1,760
Income before income taxes	333	246
Income tax expense (benefit)	84	57
Net income	249	189
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)	(1)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income		(1)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(1)	(1)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	(1)	13
Travelers [Member]
Net investment income	2	3
Net realized investment gains (losses)		(1)
Total revenues	2	2
General and administrative expenses	3	(3)
Interest expense	78	78
Total claims and expenses	81	75
Income before income taxes	(79)	(73)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(18)	(123)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	867	789
Net income	806	839
Other net realized investment gains (losses)		(1)
Eliminations [Member]
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	(867)	(789)
Net income	$ (867)	$ (789)