Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating financial statements
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 64,699	$ 65,393
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	694	645
Real estate investments	879	883
Short-term securities	3,368	3,483
Other investments	3,441	3,434
Total investments	73,081	73,838
Cash	243	330	258	214
Investment income accrued	686	752
Premiums receivable	6,021	5,872
Reinsurance recoverables	10,249	10,712
Ceded unearned premiums	976	856
Deferred acquisition costs	1,795	1,792
Contractholder receivables	4,824	4,806
Goodwill	3,365	3,365
Other intangible assets	370	381
Other assets	2,287	2,234
Total assets	103,897	104,938
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	50,018	50,922
Unearned premium reserves	11,406	11,241
Contractholder payables	4,824	4,806
Payables for reinsurance premiums	459	346
Deferred taxes	352	338
Debt	5,851	6,350
Other liabilities	5,391	5,530
Total liabilities	78,301	79,533
Common stock	21,300	21,161	20,851	20,732
Retained earnings	22,072	21,352	20,223	19,579
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,926	2,236	2,039	2,005
Treasury stock, at cost	(19,702)	(19,344)	(18,241)	(17,839)
Total shareholders' equity	25,596	25,405	24,872
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	103,897	104,938
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	60,578	60,829
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	446	462
Common stock, shares authorized	1,750.0	1,750.0
Common stock, shares issued	376.4	377.4
Common stock, shares outstanding	376.4	377.4	389.8	392.8
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	376.7	372.3
TPC [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	43,924	44,336
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	154	153
Real estate investments	33	33
Short-term securities	1,513	1,187
Other investments	2,453	2,443
Total investments	48,077	48,152
Cash	135	177	110	114
Investment income accrued	468	507
Premiums receivable	4,030	3,944
Reinsurance recoverables	6,793	7,112
Ceded unearned premiums	799	698
Deferred acquisition costs	1,557	1,560
Contractholder receivables	3,582	3,540
Goodwill	2,411	2,411
Other intangible assets	261	268
Other assets	2,031	1,930
Total assets	70,144	70,299
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	33,061	33,598
Unearned premium reserves	7,878	7,751
Contractholder payables	3,582	3,540
Payables for reinsurance premiums	234	151
Deferred taxes	336	316
Debt	692	1,191
Other liabilities	3,992	4,107
Total liabilities	49,775	50,654
Additional paid-in capital	11,635	11,135
Retained earnings	6,837	6,404
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,897	2,106
Total shareholders' equity	20,369	19,645
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	70,144	70,299
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,736	21,019
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	426	386
Real estate investments	846	850
Short-term securities	375	338
Other investments	987	990
Total investments	23,370	23,583
Cash	107	151	148	98
Investment income accrued	213	240
Premiums receivable	1,991	1,928
Reinsurance recoverables	3,456	3,600
Ceded unearned premiums	177	158
Deferred acquisition costs	238	232
Contractholder receivables	1,242	1,266
Goodwill	954	954
Other intangible assets	109	113
Other assets	239	286
Total assets	32,096	32,511
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	16,957	17,324
Unearned premium reserves	3,528	3,490
Contractholder payables	1,242	1,266
Payables for reinsurance premiums	225	195
Deferred taxes	119	123
Other liabilities	1,026	1,186
Total liabilities	23,097	23,584
Common stock	390	390
Additional paid-in capital	6,501	6,501
Retained earnings	1,306	1,113
Accumulated other comprehensive income	802	923
Total shareholders' equity	8,999	8,927
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	32,096	32,511
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	39	38
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	114	106
Short-term securities	1,480	1,958
Other investments	1	1
Total investments	1,634	2,103
Cash	1	2		2
Investment income accrued	5	5
Investment in subsidiaries	29,358	28,562
Other assets	17	18
Total assets	31,015	30,690
Deferred taxes	(103)	(101)
Debt	5,159	5,159
Other liabilities	373	237
Total liabilities	5,429	5,295
Common stock	21,300	21,161
Retained earnings	22,062	21,342
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,926	2,236
Treasury stock, at cost	(19,702)	(19,344)
Total shareholders' equity	25,586	25,395
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	31,015	30,690
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Investment in subsidiaries	(29,358)	(28,562)
Total assets	(29,358)	(28,562)
Common stock	(390)	(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(18,136)	(17,636)
Retained earnings	(8,133)	(7,507)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(2,699)	(3,029)
Total shareholders' equity	(29,358)	(28,562)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (29,358)	$ (28,562)