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Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses - Reconciliation of changes in claim liabilities (Detail) - Property and Casualty Insurance and Reinsurance, Excluding Retroactive Reinsurance [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items] |  |  |
Gross liabilities at beginning of year | $ 107,472 | $ 86,664 | $ 79,854
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses at beginning of year | (5,025) | (2,960) | (2,912)
Net liabilities at beginning of year | 102,447 | 83,704 | 76,942
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses, current accident year | 59,244 | 59,463 | 52,099
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses, prior accident years | (3,541) | (2,672) | (3,116)
Total incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses | 55,703 | 56,791 | 48,983
Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses, current accident year | (25,184) | (27,236) | (22,897)
Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses, prior accident years | (27,065) | (23,083) | (18,904)
Total paid losses and loss adjustment expenses | (52,249) | (50,319) | (41,801)
Foreign currency effect | 288 | (508) | (420)
Net liabilities of acquired businesses |  | 12,779 |
Net liabilities at end of year | 106,189 | 102,447 | 83,704
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses at end of year | 4,893 | 5,025 | 2,960
Gross liabilities at end of year | $ 111,082 | $ 107,472 | $ 86,664

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- Definition The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to casualty insurance insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (cc) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the cost of settling unpaid claims after deduction of reinsurance recoveries related to the acquisition of a business. Includes, but is not limited to, claims which have been incurred but not reported. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of payments to settle claims incurred in the current period and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -SubTopic 40 -Topic 944 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of payments to settle claims incurred in prior periods and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -SubTopic 40 -Topic 944 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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- Definition Amount of foreign currency gain (loss) which decreases (increases) the cost of settling unpaid claims after deduction of reinsurance recoveries. Includes, but is not limited to, claims which have been incurred but not reported. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense (reversal of expense) for claims incurred and costs incurred in the claim settlement process. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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- Definition Liability as of the balance sheet date for amounts representing estimated cost of settling unpaid claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies, less estimated reinsurance recoveries on such claims. This includes an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported. Claim adjustment expenses represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(13)(a)(1)) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479440/944-210-S99-1 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (cc) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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- Definition Amount before valuation allowance of reinsurance recoverables for losses reported to the ceding insurer but not yet paid, and for amounts expected based upon statistical projections and other measures of incurred losses and loss settlement expenses which have not yet been reported to the ceding insurer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479584/944-310-50-2 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479838/944-20-50-5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479616/944-310-45-6 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after effects of reinsurance, of expense for claims incurred in the current reporting period and related claims settlement costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480081/944-40-50-3 + Details
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