| **Stockholders' Equity and Statutory Accounting Practices (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| Capital Required for Capital Adequacy to Risk Weighted Assets                                                                    | 265.00%       | 240.00%       |
| Dividends payable without prior supervisory approval                                                                             | $ 715         |          |
| Hardy [Member]                                                                                                                   |          |          |
| Capital provided by CCC                                                                                                          | $ 148         |          |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Capital provided by CCC
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cna_CapitalProvidedByCcc**Namespace Prefix:**cna_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The minimum Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1H -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7881181&loc=d3e65071-112826Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7881181&loc=SL5958568-112826Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7881181&loc=SL5958570-112826
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**num:percentItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of dividends available for payment after computation of statutory restrictions on capital surplus.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph e -Article 4
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