Consolidating Financial Statements (details) - Consolidating Balance Sheet (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	$ 63,622	$ 63,956
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	949	943
Real estate investments	949	938
Short-term securities	5,033	3,882
Other investments	3,637	3,441
Total investments	74,190	73,160
Cash	367	294	295	330
Investment income accrued	663	734
Premiums receivable	6,439	6,125
Reinsurance recoverables	9,279	9,713
Ceded unearned premiums	848	801
Deferred acquisition costs	1,890	1,804
Deferred taxes		303
Contractholder receivables	4,367	4,328
Goodwill	3,621	3,634
Other intangible assets	316	351
Other assets	2,542	2,565
Total assets	104,522	103,812
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	50,402	50,895
Unearned premium reserves	12,181	11,850
Contractholder payables	4,367	4,328
Payables for reinsurance premiums	491	298
Deferred taxes	122
Debt	6,348	6,346
Other liabilities	5,290	5,299
Total liabilities	79,201	79,016
Common stock	21,764	21,500	21,425	21,161
Retained earnings	26,394	24,291	23,485	21,352
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,300	810	705	2,236
Treasury stock, at cost	(24,137)	(21,805)	(20,804)	(19,344)
Total shareholders' equity	25,321	24,796	24,811
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	104,522	103,812
Fixed maturities, available for sale, amortized cost	61,043	62,196
Equity securities, available for sale, cost	609	686
Common stock, shares authorized	1,750.0	1,750.0
Common stock, shares issued	331.4	353.5
Common stock, shares outstanding	331.4	353.5	364.1	377.4
Treasury stock, at cost, shares	427.6	401.5
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | TPC [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	43,493	43,720
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	271	329
Real estate investments	56	33
Short-term securities	2,413	1,867
Other investments	2,658	2,450
Total investments	48,891	48,399
Cash	216	137	130	177
Investment income accrued	451	499
Premiums receivable	4,353	4,124
Reinsurance recoverables	6,214	6,292
Ceded unearned premiums	738	712
Deferred acquisition costs	1,666	1,570
Deferred taxes		279
Contractholder receivables	3,274	3,179
Goodwill	2,609	2,619
Other intangible assets	225	250
Other assets	2,011	2,010
Total assets	70,648	70,070
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	33,414	33,506
Unearned premium reserves	8,463	8,188
Contractholder payables	3,274	3,179
Payables for reinsurance premiums	286	127
Deferred taxes	24
Debt	692	692
Other liabilities	4,039	4,109
Total liabilities	50,192	49,801
Additional paid-in capital	11,634	11,634
Retained earnings	7,716	7,868
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,106	767
Total shareholders' equity	20,456	20,269
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	70,648	70,070
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	20,090	20,199
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	542	484
Real estate investments	893	905
Short-term securities	812	492
Other investments	978	990
Total investments	23,315	23,070
Cash	149	154	163	151
Investment income accrued	206	231
Premiums receivable	2,086	2,001
Reinsurance recoverables	3,065	3,421
Ceded unearned premiums	110	89
Deferred acquisition costs	224	234
Deferred taxes		86
Contractholder receivables	1,093	1,149
Goodwill	1,012	1,015
Other intangible assets	91	101
Other assets	363	357
Total assets	31,714	31,908
Claims and claim adjustment expense reserves	16,988	17,389
Unearned premium reserves	3,718	3,662
Contractholder payables	1,093	1,149
Payables for reinsurance premiums	205	171
Deferred taxes	44
Other liabilities	1,160	1,180
Total liabilities	23,208	23,551
Common stock	390	390
Additional paid-in capital	6,502	6,502
Retained earnings	1,070	1,042
Accumulated other comprehensive income	544	423
Total shareholders' equity	8,506	8,357
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	31,714	31,908
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Travelers [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value	39	37
Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value	136	130
Short-term securities	1,808	1,523
Other investments	1	1
Total investments	1,984	1,691
Cash	2	3	2	2
Investment income accrued	6	4
Deferred taxes		(62)
Investment in subsidiaries	28,950	28,616
Other assets	168	198
Total assets	31,110	30,450
Deferred taxes	54
Debt	5,656	5,654
Other liabilities	91	10
Total liabilities	5,801	5,664
Common stock	21,764	21,500
Retained earnings	26,382	24,281
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,300	810
Treasury stock, at cost	(24,137)	(21,805)
Total shareholders' equity	25,309	24,786
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	31,110	30,450
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Balance Sheet
Investment in subsidiaries	(28,950)	(28,616)
Total assets	(28,950)	(28,616)
Common stock	(390)	(390)
Additional paid-in capital	(18,136)	(18,136)
Retained earnings	(8,774)	(8,900)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,650)	(1,190)
Total shareholders' equity	(28,950)	(28,616)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (28,950)	$ (28,616)