| **Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves (Gross and net carried claim and claim adjustment expense reserves) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | $ 12,668      | $ 12,538      |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 12,095        | 11,765        |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 24,763        | 24,303        | 25,496        | 26,816        |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 10,356        | 10,178        |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 9,281         | 9,105         |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | 19,637        | 19,283        | 19,374        | 21,222        |
| CNA Specialty [Member]                                                                                                                                                       |          |          |          |          |
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 2,292         | 2,441         |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 4,456         | 4,399         |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 6,748         | 6,840         |          |          |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 2,008         | 2,086         |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 4,104         | 3,937         |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | 6,112         | 6,023         |          |          |
| CNA Commercial [Member]                                                                                                                                                      |          |          |          |          |
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 6,146         | 6,266         |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 5,180         | 5,243         |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 11,326        | 11,509        |          |          |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 5,611         | 5,720         |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 4,600         | 4,670         |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | 10,211        | 10,390        |          |          |
| Hardy [Member]                                                                                                                                                               |          |          |          |          |
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 333           |          |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 188           |          |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 521           |          |          |          |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 192           |          |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 82            |          |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | 274           |          |          |          |
| Life and Group Non-Core [Member]                                                                                                                                             |          |          |          |          |
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 2,690         | 2,510         |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 316           | 315           |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 3,006         | 2,825         |          |          |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 2,253         | 2,025         |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 275           | 254           |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | 2,528         | 2,279         |          |          |
| Corporate and Other [Member]                                                                                                                                                 |          |          |          |          |
| Gross Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 1,207         | 1,321         |          |          |
| Gross IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                          | 1,955         | 1,808         |          |          |
| Total Gross Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                              | 3,162         | 3,129         |          |          |
| Net Case Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 292           | 347           |          |          |
| Net IBNR Reserves                                                                                                                                                            | 220           | 244           |          |          |
| Total Net Carried Claim and Claim Adjustment Expense Reserves                                                                                                                | $ 512         | $ 591         |          |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Net case reserves
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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Net IBNR reserves
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No definition available.
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The estimated cost of settling claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies and assumed and ceded insurance contracts as of the balance sheet date, including an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported and the actual and estimated costs of settling claims.
+ References
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Estimated costs as of the balance sheet date of settling insured claims and costs incurred in the claims settlement process for claims that have not yet been submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement.
+ References
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Liability as of the balance sheet date for amounts representing estimated cost of settling unpaid claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies, less estimated reinsurance recoveries on such claims. This includes an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported. Claim adjustment expenses represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims.
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Costs of settling insured claims and costs incurred in the claims settlement process for the specified year specifically for claims that have already been submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement.
+ References
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