| **Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified**         | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
||
| **Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized                               | 6,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized                                                                                       |   |   |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant                      | 1,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant                                                                                |   |   |
| Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense                                                                                   | $ 11us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense                                                                                                                                       | $ 10us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense | $ 9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense |
| Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense                                             | 4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense                                                                                                          | 3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense | 3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense |
| Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized                            | 13us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized                                                                                      |   |   |
| Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition    | 1 year 8 months 15 days                                                                                                                                                                  |   |   |
| Restricted Shares [Member]                                                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| **Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| Vesting Period Following Date of Grant, in Years                                                                             | 4                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |
| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| **Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| Vesting Period Following Date of Grant, in Years                                                                             | 4                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |
| Range of Shares Initially Granted Payable Based Upon Attainment of Specific Annual Performance Goals                         | 0% to 100%                                                                                                                                                                               |   |   |
| Performance Shares [Member]                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| **Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| Range of Shares Initially Granted Payable Based Upon Attainment of Specific Annual Performance Goals                         | 0% to 200%                                                                                                                                                                               |   |   |
| Measurement Period of Specific Annual Performance Goals, in Years                                                            | 3                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |
| Stock Options and SARs [Member]                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| **Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]**                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                     |   |   |
| Vesting Period Following Date of Grant, in Years                                                                             | 4                                                                                                                                                                                        |   |   |
| Stock Options and SARs, Maximum Term Following Date of Grant, in Years                                                       | 10                                                                                                                                                                                       |   |   |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross                          | 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember                              | 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember | 10,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number                              | 1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember                        |   |   |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number | 1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember |   |   |
| Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number                              | 1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember                        |   |   |
| Fair Value of Stock Based Awards Vested                                                                                      | $ 1cna_FairValueOfStockBasedAwardsVested/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember                                                                                  | $ 1cna_FairValueOfStockBasedAwardsVested/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember | $ 1cna_FairValueOfStockBasedAwardsVested/ cna_StockbasedcompensationAxis= cna_StockOptionsandSARsMember |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
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Fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights vested during the period.
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| - Definition
Measurement Period of Specific Annual Performance Goals, in Years
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| - Definition
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| - Definition
Stock Options and SARs, Maximum Term Following Date of Grant, in Years
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Vesting Period Following Date of Grant, in Years
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.
+ References
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|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.
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| - Definition
The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period.
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).
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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.
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| - Definition
Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.
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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
As of the balance sheet date, the number of shares into which fully vested and expected to vest stock options outstanding can be converted under the option plan.
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