Reinsurance (tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Reinsurance disclosure

Summary of reinsurance financial data [Table Text Block]

(for the year ended December 31, in millions)	2016			2015			2014
Written premiums
Direct	$	25,567		$	24,939		$	24,844
Assumed	928			843			788
Ceded	(1,537		)	(1,661		)	(1,728		)
Total net written premiums	$	24,958		$	24,121		$	23,904
Earned premiums
Direct	$	25,262		$	24,740		$	24,810
Assumed	875			814			743
Ceded	(1,603		)	(1,680		)	(1,840		)
Total net earned premiums	$	24,534		$	23,874		$	23,713
Percentage of assumed earned premiums to net earned premiums	3.6		%	3.4		%	3.1		%
Ceded claims and claim adjustment expenses incurred	$	762		$	1,034		$	953

Reinsurance recoverables [Table Text Block]

(at December 31, in millions)	2016			2015
Gross reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses	$	3,181		$	3,848
Allowance for uncollectible reinsurance	(116		)	(157		)
Net reinsurance recoverables	3,065			3,691
Mandatory pools and associations	2,054			2,015
Structured settlements	3,168			3,204
Total reinsurance recoverables	$	8,287		$	8,910