Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 64,705	$ 64,232
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	595	559
Real estate investments	899	865
Short-term securities	3,275	3,594
Other investments	3,470	3,451
Total investments	72,944	72,701
Cash	230	214	273	200
Investment income accrued	751	768
Premiums receivable	6,197	5,730
Reinsurance recoverables	10,404	11,155
Ceded unearned premiums	874	828
Deferred acquisition costs	1,839	1,786
Deferred taxes		7
Contractholder receivables	4,903	5,186
Goodwill	3,365	3,365
Other intangible assets	405	433
Other assets	2,418	2,402
Total assets	104,330	104,575
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	50,793	51,392
Unearned premium reserves	11,449	11,102
Contractholder payables	4,903	5,186
Payables for reinsurance premiums	413	389
Deferred taxes	194
Debt	6,349	6,605
Other liabilities	5,180	5,424
Total liabilities	79,281	80,098
Common stock	20,970	20,732	20,607	20,162
Retained earnings	20,541	19,579	18,966	18,847
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,130	2,005	1,711	1,255
Treasury stock, at cost	(18,592)	(17,839)	(16,276)	(14,857)
Total shareholders' equity	25,049	24,477	25,008
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	104,330	104,575
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	60,313	59,994
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	436	414
Common stock, shares authorized	1,750.0	1,750.0
Common stock, shares issued	386.0	392.8
Common stock, shares outstanding	386.0	392.8	419.5	434.6
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	361.4	349.0
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	44,014	43,438
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	147	146
Real estate investments	33	33
Short-term securities	1,095	879
Other investments	2,395	2,446
Total investments	47,684	46,942
Cash	110	114	85	86
Investment income accrued	509	517
Premiums receivable	4,130	3,865
Reinsurance recoverables	6,825	7,372
Ceded unearned premiums	670	656
Deferred acquisition costs	1,586	1,536
Deferred taxes		(82)
Contractholder receivables	3,563	3,891
Goodwill	2,411	2,411
Other intangible assets	283	297
Other assets	2,064	1,983
Total assets	69,835	69,502
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	33,415	33,727
Unearned premium reserves	7,835	7,644
Contractholder payables	3,563	3,891
Payables for reinsurance premiums	198	178
Deferred taxes	229
Debt	1,191	1,190
Other liabilities	3,869	3,910
Total liabilities	50,300	50,540
Additional paid-in capital	11,135	11,135
Retained earnings	6,408	5,900
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,992	1,927
Total shareholders' equity	19,535	18,962
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	69,835	69,502
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,657	20,761
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	348	319
Real estate investments	866	832
Short-term securities	269	376
Other investments	1,074	1,004
Total investments	23,214	23,292
Cash	116	98	186	110
Investment income accrued	242	251
Premiums receivable	2,067	1,865
Reinsurance recoverables	3,579	3,783
Ceded unearned premiums	204	172
Deferred acquisition costs	253	250
Deferred taxes		(47)
Contractholder receivables	1,340	1,295
Goodwill	954	954
Other intangible assets	122	136
Other assets	22	52
Total assets	32,113	32,101
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	17,378	17,665
Unearned premium reserves	3,614	3,458
Contractholder payables	1,340	1,295
Payables for reinsurance premiums	215	211
Deferred taxes	93
Other liabilities	645	859
Total liabilities	23,285	23,488
Common stock	390	390
Additional paid-in capital	6,501	6,501
Retained earnings	1,067	882
Accumulated other comprehensive income	870	840
Total shareholders' equity	8,828	8,613
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,113	32,101
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	34	33
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	100	94
Short-term securities	1,911	2,339
Other investments	1	1
Total investments	2,046	2,467
Cash	4	2	2	4
Deferred taxes		136
Investment in subsidiaries	28,353	27,565
Other assets	332	367
Total assets	30,735	30,537
Deferred taxes	(128)
Debt	5,158	5,415
Other liabilities	666	655
Total liabilities	5,696	6,070
Common stock	20,970	20,732
Retained earnings	20,531	19,569
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,130	2,005
Treasury stock, at cost	(18,592)	(17,839)
Total shareholders' equity	25,039	24,467
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	30,735	30,537
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(28,353)	(27,565)
Total assets	(28,353)	(27,565)
Common stock	(390)	(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(17,636)	(17,636)
Retained earnings	(7,465)	(6,772)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(2,862)	(2,767)
Total shareholders' equity	(28,353)	(27,565)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,353)	$ (27,565)