Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 64,943	$ 64,232
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	583	559
Real estate investments	860	865
Short-term securities	3,373	3,594
Other investments	3,485	3,451
Total investments	73,244	72,701
Cash	258	214	239	200
Investment income accrued	717	768
Premiums receivable	5,884	5,730
Reinsurance recoverables	10,696	11,182
Ceded unearned premiums	955	828
Deferred acquisition costs	1,801	1,786
Deferred taxes		7
Contractholder receivables	5,263	5,186
Goodwill	3,365	3,365
Other intangible assets	417	433
Other assets	2,266	2,402
Total assets	104,866	104,602
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserve	50,973	51,419
Unearned premium reserves	11,232	11,102
Contractholder payables	5,263	5,186
Payables for reinsurance premiums	511	389
Deferred taxes	120
Debt	6,606	6,605
Other liabilities	5,289	5,424
Total liabilities	79,994	80,125
Common stock	20,851	20,732	20,370	20,162
Retained earnings	20,223	19,579	19,538	18,847
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,039	2,005	1,272	1,255
Treasury stock, at cost	(18,241)	(17,839)	(16,003)	(14,857)
Total shareholders' equity	24,872	24,477	25,243
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	104,866	104,602
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	60,777	59,994
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	419	414
Common stock, shares authorized	1,750.0	1,750.0
Common stock, shares issued	389.8	392.8
Common stock, shares outstanding	389.8	392.8	420.3	434.6
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	355.8	349.0
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	44,023	43,438
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	149	146
Real estate investments	33	33
Short-term securities	942	879
Other investments	2,424	2,446
Total investments	47,571	46,942
Cash	110	114	123	86
Investment income accrued	492	517
Premiums receivable	3,936	3,865
Reinsurance recoverables	7,033	7,399
Ceded unearned premiums	738	656
Deferred acquisition costs	1,548	1,536
Deferred taxes		(82)
Contractholder receivables	3,903	3,891
Goodwill	2,411	2,411
Other intangible assets	290	297
Other assets	2,102	1,983
Total assets	70,134	69,529
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserve	33,470	33,754
Unearned premium reserves	7,718	7,644
Contractholder payables	3,903	3,891
Payables for reinsurance premiums	269	178
Deferred taxes	184
Debt	1,190	1,190
Other liabilities	3,984	3,910
Total liabilities	50,718	50,567
Additional paid-in capital	11,135	11,135
Retained earnings	6,364	5,900
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,917	1,927
Total shareholders' equity	19,416	18,962
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	70,134	69,529
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,887	20,761
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	332	319
Real estate investments	827	832
Short-term securities	265	376
Other investments	1,060	1,004
Total investments	23,371	23,292
Cash	148	98	112	110
Investment income accrued	225	251
Premiums receivable	1,948	1,865
Reinsurance recoverables	3,663	3,783
Ceded unearned premiums	217	172
Deferred acquisition costs	253	250
Deferred taxes		(47)
Contractholder receivables	1,360	1,295
Goodwill	954	954
Other intangible assets	127	136
Other assets	(181)	52
Total assets	32,085	32,101
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserve	17,503	17,665
Unearned premium reserves	3,514	3,458
Contractholder payables	1,360	1,295
Payables for reinsurance premiums	242	211
Deferred taxes	70
Other liabilities	568	859
Total liabilities	23,257	23,488
Common stock	390	390
Additional paid-in capital	6,501	6,501
Retained earnings	1,073	882
Accumulated other comprehensive income	864	840
Total shareholders' equity	8,828	8,613
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,085	32,101
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	33	33
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	102	94
Short-term securities	2,166	2,339
Other investments	1	1
Total investments	2,302	2,467
Cash		2	4	4
Deferred taxes		136
Investment in subsidiaries	28,234	27,565
Other assets	345	367
Total assets	30,881	30,537
Deferred taxes	(134)
Debt	5,416	5,415
Other liabilities	737	655
Total liabilities	6,019	6,070
Common stock	20,851	20,732
Retained earnings	20,213	19,569
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,039	2,005
Treasury stock, at cost	(18,241)	(17,839)
Total shareholders' equity	24,862	24,467
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	30,881	30,537
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(28,234)	(27,565)
Total assets	(28,234)	(27,565)
Common stock	(390)	(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(17,636)	(17,636)
Retained earnings	(7,427)	(6,772)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(2,781)	(2,767)
Total shareholders' equity	(28,234)	(27,565)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,234)	$ (27,565)