Fair Value Measurements (details) - Fair Value Hierarchy (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	$ 66,591	$ 64,877
Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,827	3,060
Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	63,484	61,523
Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	280	294
Fixed maturities [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	65,873	64,232
Fixed maturities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,194	2,494
Fixed maturities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	63,446	61,488
Fixed maturities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	233	250
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,171	2,497
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,154	2,465
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government and government agencies and authorities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	17	32
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	39,252	39,022
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	39,224	39,002
Obligations of states, municipalities and political subdivisions [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	28	20
Debt securities issued by foreign governments [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,366	2,318
Debt securities issued by foreign governments [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	2,366	2,318
Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	3,154	3,515
Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	3,149	3,514
Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and pass-through securities [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	5	1
All other corporate bonds [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	18,897	16,850
All other corporate bonds [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	8
All other corporate bonds [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	18,689	16,621
All other corporate bonds [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	200	229
Redeemable preferred stock [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	33	30
Redeemable preferred stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	32	29
Redeemable preferred stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	1	1
Equity securities [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	629	559
Equity securities [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	591	524
Equity securities [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	38	35
Equity securities, common stock [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	496	428
Equity securities, common stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	496	428
Equity securities, non-redeemable preferred stock [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	133	131
Equity securities, non-redeemable preferred stock [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	95	96
Equity securities, non-redeemable preferred stock [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	38	35
Other investments [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	89	86
Other investments [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	42	42
Other investments [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	47	44
Investments in various publicly-traded securities, including securities in the Company's trading portfolio, mutual funds and other small holdings disclosed in Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	42	42
Investments in various publicly-traded securities, including securities in the Company's trading portfolio, mutual funds and other small holdings disclosed in Level 1 [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	42	42
Investment in non-public common and preferred equity securities where the fair value estimate is determined either internally or by an external fund manager and therefore disclosed in Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	47	44
Investment in non-public common and preferred equity securities where the fair value estimate is determined either internally or by an external fund manager and therefore disclosed in Level 3 [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Level within the fair value hierarchy at which the Company's financial assets are measured
Total invested assets measured on a recurring basis	$ 47	$ 44