Reinsurance and Indemnification (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Effects of reinsurance on property-liability insurance premiums written and earned and life and annuity premiums and contract charges

Effects of reinsurance and indemnification on property and casualty premiums written and earned and life premiums and contract charges
	For the years ended December 31,
($ in millions)	2018			2017			2016
Property and casualty insurance premiums written
Direct	$	35,895		$	33,685		$	32,614
Assumed	99			64			47
Ceded	(1,008		)	(1,007		)	(1,061		)
Property and casualty insurance premiums written, net of recoverables	$	34,986		$	32,742		$	31,600
Property and casualty insurance premiums earned
Direct	$	34,977		$	33,221		$	32,249
Assumed	87			50			45
Ceded	(1,016		)	(971		)	(987		)
Property and casualty insurance premiums earned, net of recoverables	$	34,048		$	32,300		$	31,307
Life premiums and contract charges
Direct	$	2,001		$	1,894		$	1,766
Assumed	754			787			818
Ceded	(290		)	(303		)	(309		)
Life premiums and contract charges, net of recoverables	$	2,465		$	2,378		$	2,275

Summary of retention limits by period of policy issuance

Retention limits by period of policy issuance
Period	Retention limits
April 2015 through current	Single life: $2 million per life Joint life: no longer offered
April 2011 through March 2015	Single life: $5 million per life, $3 million age 70 and over, and $10 million for contracts that meet specific criteria Joint life: $8 million per life, and $10 million for contracts that meet specific criteria
July 2007 through March 2011	$5 million per life, $3 million age 70 and over, and $10 million for contracts that meet specific criteria
September 1998 through June 2007	$2 million per life, in 2006 the limit was increased to $5 million for instances when specific criteria were met
August 1998 and prior	Up to $1 million per life

Summary of reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid benefits

Reinsurance recoverables on paid and unpaid benefits
	As of December 31,
($ in millions)	2018		2017
Annuities	$	1,381	$	1,370
Life insurance	776		817
Other	142		167
Total	$	2,299	$	2,354