Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Reinsurance

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

($ in millions)	2012			2011			2010
Property-liability insurance premiums written
Direct	$	28,103		$	27,066		$	26,984
Assumed		35			22			29
Ceded		(1,111	)		(1,108	)		(1,106	)
Property-liability insurance premiums written, net of reinsurance	$	27,027		$	25,980		$	25,907
Property-liability insurance premiums earned
Direct	$	27,794		$	27,016		$	27,015
Assumed		33			24			34
Ceded		(1,090	)		(1,098	)		(1,092	)
Property-liability insurance premiums earned, net of reinsurance	$	26,737		$	25,942		$	25,957
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges
Direct	$	2,860		$	2,953		$	2,935
Assumed		55			35			37
Ceded		(674	)		(750	)		(804	)
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance	$	2,241		$	2,238		$	2,168

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)	2012		2011
Annuities	$	1,831	$	1,827
Life insurance		1,609		1,600
Long-term care insurance		1,163		1,063
Other		85		87
Total Allstate Financial	$	4,688	$	4,577