Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Statement of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Premiums	$ 5,529	$ 5,503	$ 11,052	$ 10,874
Net investment income	738	758	1,478	1,537
Fee income	59	74	141	148
Net realized investment gains (losses)	4	19	14	39
Other revenues	29	34	66	68
Total revenues	6,359	6,388	12,751	12,666
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	3,786	5,141	7,150	8,523
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	976	970	1,947	1,918
General and administrative expenses	893	907	1,777	1,790
Interest expense	96	97	192	193
Total claims and expenses	5,751	7,115	11,066	12,424
Income (loss) before income taxes	608	(727)	1,685	242
Income tax expense (benefit)	109	(363)	380	(233)
Net income (loss)	499	(364)	1,305	475
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)	11	5	11	7
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	(15)	(9)	(19)	(15)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(4)	(4)	(8)	(8)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	8	23	22	47
TPC [Member]
Premiums	3,745	3,710	7,488	7,335
Net investment income	507	511	1,001	1,043
Fee income	58	73	140	147
Net realized investment gains (losses)	3	12	15	21
Other revenues	22	27	49	57
Total revenues	4,335	4,333	8,693	8,603
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	2,549	3,431	4,821	5,665
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	647	641	1,293	1,267
General and administrative expenses	608	591	1,207	1,187
Interest expense	18	18	36	36
Total claims and expenses	3,822	4,681	7,357	8,155
Income (loss) before income taxes	513	(348)	1,336	448
Income tax expense (benefit)	119	(204)	324	(8)
Net income (loss)	394	(144)	1,012	456
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)	(1)	(3)		(1)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	(2)		(6)	(5)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(3)	(3)	(6)	(6)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	6	15	21	27
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Premiums	1,784	1,793	3,564	3,539
Net investment income	229	245	473	489
Fee income	1	1	1	1
Net realized investment gains (losses)	1	11	(1)	23
Other revenues	7	7	17	11
Total revenues	2,022	2,057	4,054	4,063
Claims and claim adjustment expenses	1,237	1,710	2,329	2,858
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	329	329	654	651
General and administrative expenses	284	290	566	580
Total claims and expenses	1,850	2,329	3,549	4,089
Income (loss) before income taxes	172	(272)	505	(26)
Income tax expense (benefit)	27	(126)	111	(69)
Net income (loss)	145	(146)	394	43
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, total gains (losses)	12	8	11	8
Other-than-temporary impairment losses, non-credit component of impairments recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income	(13)	(9)	(13)	(10)
Other-than-temporary impairment losses	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Other net realized investment gains (losses)	2	12	1	25
Travelers [Member]
Net investment income	2	2	4	5
Net realized investment gains (losses)		(4)		(5)
Total revenues	2	(2)	4
General and administrative expenses	1	26	4	23
Interest expense	78	79	156	157
Total claims and expenses	79	105	160	180
Income (loss) before income taxes	(77)	(107)	(156)	(180)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(37)	(33)	(55)	(156)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	539	(290)	1,406	499
Net income (loss)	499	(364)	1,305	475
Other net realized investment gains (losses)		(4)		(5)
Eliminations [Member]
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	(539)	290	(1,406)	(499)
Net income (loss)	$ (539)	$ 290	$ (1,406)	$ (499)