Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Reinsurance

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

($ in millions)	2011			2010			2009
Property-liability insurance premiums written
Direct	$	27,066		$	26,984		$	26,980
Assumed		22			29			41
Ceded		(1,108	)		(1,106	)		(1,050	)
Property-liability insurance premiums written, net of reinsurance	$	25,980		$	25,907		$	25,971
Property-liability insurance premiums earned
Direct	$	27,016		$	27,015		$	27,200
Assumed		24			34			50
Ceded		(1,098	)		(1,092	)		(1,056	)
Property-liability insurance premiums earned, net of reinsurance	$	25,942		$	25,957		$	26,194
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges
Direct	$	2,953		$	2,935		$	2,757
Assumed		35			37			39
Ceded		(750	)		(804	)		(838	)
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance	$	2,238		$	2,168		$	1,958

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)	2011		2010
Annuities	$	1,827	$	1,785
Life insurance		1,600		1,569
Long-term care insurance		1,063		957
Other		87		89
Total Allstate Financial	$	4,577	$	4,400