Goodwill (details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill by segment
Goodwill	$ 3,580	$ 3,573
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Business Insurance [Member]
Goodwill by segment
Goodwill	2,227	2,225
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Bond & Specialty Insurance [Member]
Goodwill by segment
Goodwill	549	549
Reportable Segments [Member] \| Personal Insurance [Member]
Goodwill by segment
Goodwill	778	773
Other [Member]
Goodwill by segment
Goodwill	$ 26	$ 26

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant