Indemnity Supplemental Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Condensed financial statements
Service agreement fee received	$ 7	$ 8
Net investment income received	110	97
Limited partnership distributions	25	32
Commissions and bonuses paid to agents	(180)	(178)
Income taxes paid	(52)	(21)
Net cash provided by operating activities	72	92
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(22)	(254)
Net cash used in financing activities	(36)	(57)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	14	(219)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	185	430
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	199	211
Indemnity
Condensed financial statements
Management fee received	266	252
Service agreement fee received	7	8
Net investment income received	7	4
Limited partnership distributions	3	5
Increase (decrease) in reimbursements collected from affiliates	0	(8)
Commissions and bonuses paid to agents	(180)	(178)
Salaries and wages paid	(34)	(38)
Pension contribution and employee benefits paid	(27)	(4)
General operating expenses paid	(33)	(35)
Income taxes paid	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	9	6
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	53	(168)
Net cash used in financing activities	(45)	(62)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	17	(224)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	11	310
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 28	$ 86