Segment Information (Revenues by Product Line) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										$ 18,063		$ 18,838		$ 18,803
Net investment income:
Securities available-for-sale and other										4,237		4,272		4,364
Equity securities, trading										4,565		(1,359)		(774)
Total net investment income										8,802		2,913		3,590
Net realized capital losses										(711)		(145)		(611)
Other revenues										258		253		267
Total revenues	7,735	6,442	[1]	4,574	7,661	5,638	4,520	5,401	6,300	26,412		21,859		22,049
Property & Casualty Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										6,259		6,127		5,744
Workers' Compensation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										2,987		2,809		2,387
Property [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										505		528		547
Automobile [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										587		583		598
Package Business [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										1,160		1,145		1,124
Liability [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										562		540		540
Fidelity and Surety [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										205		215		224
Professional Liability [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										253		307		324
Consumer Markets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										3,636	[2]	3,747	[2]	3,947	[2]
Automobile [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										2,526		2,619		2,806
Homeowners [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										1,110		1,128		1,141
Group Benefits [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										3,810		4,147		4,278
Group Disability [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										1,735		1,929		2,004
Group life [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										1,881		2,024		2,052
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										194		194		222
Mutual Funds [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										599		649		664
Non-proprietary [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										487		541		561
Proprietary [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										112		108		103
Talcott Resolution [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										3,594		3,959		3,980
Property and Casualty Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										(2)		0		1
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Earned premiums, fees and other considerations										$ 167		$ 209		$ 189

[1] On March 1, 2013, the Company filed Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A to amend and restate its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 as originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2012. In this restatement the Company recognized an estimated pre-tax reinsurance loss on disposition of $533 comprised of impairment of goodwill attributed to the Individual Life business of $342 and a loss accrual for premium deficiency of $191 in the third quarter of 2012. The estimate is subject to change pending final determination of net assets sold, transaction costs, and other adjustments. The effect of the restatement is summarized as follows: Three months ended September 30, 2012 As previouslyreportedAdjustmentAs restatedIncome (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax$403$(388)$15Net income (loss)$401$(388)$13Net income (loss) available to common shareholders$391$(388)$3Basic earnings (losses) per common share$0.90$(0.89)$0.01Diluted earnings (losses) per common share$0.83$(0.82)$0.01

[2] For 2012, 2011 and 2010, AARP members accounted for earned premiums of $2.8 billion, $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, respectively.