Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Reinsurance

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

($ in millions)	2014			2013			2012
Property-liability insurance premiums written
Direct	$	30,686		$	29,241		$	28,103
Assumed		48			52			35
Ceded		(1,120	)		(1,129	)		(1,111	)
Property-liability insurance premiums written, net of reinsurance	$	29,614		$	28,164		$	27,027
Property-liability insurance premiums earned
Direct	$	29,914		$	28,638		$	27,794
Assumed		45			49			33
Ceded		(1,030	)		(1,069	)		(1,090	)
Property-liability insurance premiums earned, net of reinsurance	$	28,929		$	27,618		$	26,737
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges
Direct	$	1,944		$	2,909		$	2,860
Assumed		629			82			55
Ceded		(416	)		(639	)		(674	)
Life and annuity premiums and contract charges, net of reinsurance	$	2,157		$	2,352		$	2,241

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)	2014		2013
Annuities	$	1,594	$	1,648
Life insurance		916		1,029
Long-term care insurance		80		78
Other		117		117
Total Allstate Financial	$	2,707	$	2,872