Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 62,843	$ 65,393
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	701	645
Real estate investments	921	883
Short-term securities	3,394	3,483
Other investments	3,408	3,434
Total investments	71,267	73,838
Cash	308	330	230	214
Investment income accrued	734	752
Premiums receivable	6,268	5,872
Reinsurance recoverables	9,887	10,712
Ceded unearned premiums	913	856
Deferred acquisition costs	1,802	1,792
Deferred taxes	257
Contractholder receivables	4,448	4,806
Goodwill	3,365	3,365
Other intangible assets	358	381
Other assets	2,293	2,234
Total assets	101,900	104,938
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	49,620	50,922
Unearned premium reserves	11,557	11,241
Contractholder payables	4,448	4,806
Payables for reinsurance premiums	395	346
Deferred taxes		338
Debt	5,852	6,350
Other liabilities	5,138	5,530
Total liabilities	77,010	79,533
Common stock	21,367	21,161	20,970	20,732
Retained earnings	22,806	21,352	20,541	19,579
Accumulated other comprehensive income	720	2,236	2,130	2,005
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,003)	(19,344)	(18,592)	(17,839)
Total shareholders' equity	24,890	25,405	25,049
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	101,900	104,938
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	60,494	60,829
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	463	462
Common stock, shares authorized	1,750.0	1,750.0
Common stock, shares issued	373.5	377.4
Common stock, shares outstanding	373.5	377.4	386.0	392.8
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	380.3	372.3
TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	43,198	44,336
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	153	153
Real estate investments	32	33
Short-term securities	1,369	1,187
Other investments	2,431	2,443
Total investments	47,183	48,152
Cash	152	177	110	114
Investment income accrued	498	507
Premiums receivable	4,196	3,944
Reinsurance recoverables	6,468	7,112
Ceded unearned premiums	736	698
Deferred acquisition costs	1,567	1,560
Deferred taxes	100
Contractholder receivables	3,231	3,540
Goodwill	2,411	2,411
Other intangible assets	253	268
Other assets	1,983	1,930
Total assets	68,778	70,299
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	32,681	33,598
Unearned premium reserves	7,935	7,751
Contractholder payables	3,231	3,540
Payables for reinsurance premiums	183	151
Deferred taxes		316
Debt	692	1,191
Other liabilities	3,817	4,107
Total liabilities	48,539	50,654
Additional paid-in capital	11,635	11,135
Retained earnings	7,580	6,404
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,024	2,106
Total shareholders' equity	20,239	19,645
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	68,778	70,299
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	19,607	21,019
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	433	386
Real estate investments	889	850
Short-term securities	252	338
Other investments	976	990
Total investments	22,157	23,583
Cash	155	151	116	98
Investment income accrued	232	240
Premiums receivable	2,072	1,928
Reinsurance recoverables	3,419	3,600
Ceded unearned premiums	177	158
Deferred acquisition costs	235	232
Deferred taxes	53
Contractholder receivables	1,217	1,266
Goodwill	954	954
Other intangible assets	105	113
Other assets	32	286
Total assets	30,808	32,511
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	16,939	17,324
Unearned premium reserves	3,622	3,490
Contractholder payables	1,217	1,266
Payables for reinsurance premiums	212	195
Deferred taxes		123
Other liabilities	689	1,186
Total liabilities	22,679	23,584
Common stock	390	390
Additional paid-in capital	6,501	6,501
Retained earnings	786	1,113
Accumulated other comprehensive income	452	923
Total shareholders' equity	8,129	8,927
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	30,808	32,511
Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	38	38
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	115	106
Short-term securities	1,773	1,958
Other investments	1	1
Total investments	1,927	2,103
Cash	1	2	4	2
Investment income accrued	4	5
Deferred taxes	104
Investment in subsidiaries	28,358	28,562
Other assets	278	18
Total assets	30,672	30,690
Deferred taxes		(101)
Debt	5,160	5,159
Other liabilities	632	237
Total liabilities	5,792	5,295
Common stock	21,367	21,161
Retained earnings	22,796	21,342
Accumulated other comprehensive income	720	2,236
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,003)	(19,344)
Total shareholders' equity	24,880	25,395
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	30,672	30,690
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(28,358)	(28,562)
Total assets	(28,358)	(28,562)
Common stock	(390)	(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(18,136)	(17,636)
Retained earnings	(8,356)	(7,507)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,476)	(3,029)
Total shareholders' equity	(28,358)	(28,562)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,358)	$ (28,562)