Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Reinsurance

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

($ in millions)	2013			2012			2011
Property-liability insurance premiums written
Direct	$	29,241		$	28,103		$	27,066
Assumed		52			35			22
Ceded		(1,129	)		(1,111	)		(1,108	)
Property-liability insurance premiums written, net of reinsurance	$	28,164		$	27,027		$	25,980
Property-liability insurance premiums earned
Direct	$	28,638		$	27,794		$	27,016
Assumed		49			33			24
Ceded		(1,069	)		(1,090	)		(1,098	)
Property-liability insurance premiums earned, net of reinsurance	$	27,618		$	26,737		$	25,942
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges
Direct	$	2,909		$	2,860		$	2,953
Assumed		82			55			35
Ceded		(639	)		(674	)		(750	)
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance	$	2,352		$	2,241		$	2,238

Summary of retention limits by period of policy issuance

Period	Retention limits
April 2011 through current	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

($ in millions)	2013		2012
Annuities	$	1,648	$	1,831
Life insurance		1,029		1,609
Long-term care insurance		78		1,163
Other		117		85
Total Allstate Financial	$	2,872	$	4,688