XML 104 R59.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Summarized Future Gross Undiscounted Premiums Expected to be Collected, and Future Expected Premiums Earned, Net of Reinsurance (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013
--- | ---
Insurance [Abstract] |
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2013 | $ 33,020
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2014 | 125,309
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2015 | 125,159
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2016 | 118,632
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2017 | 112,526
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2022 | 497,121
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2027 | 392,615
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2032 | 277,704
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2037 | 131,553
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2042 | 48,449
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2047 | 14,564
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2052 | 3,639
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2057 | 92
Future premiums expected to be collected, Total | 1,880,383
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2013 | 51,560
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2014 | 186,459
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2015 | 167,106
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2016 | 154,135
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2017 | 143,323
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2022 | 591,581
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2027 | 414,028
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2032 | 257,483
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2037 | 124,457
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2042 | 42,002
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2047 | 14,429
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2052 | 4,692
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2057 | 296
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, Total | $ 2,151,551

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the forty-first through forty-fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanFortyAndWithinFortyFiveYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the forty-first through the forty-fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanFortyAndWithinFortyFiveYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of unearned premium revenue under contracts issued by an insurance entity that provide protection to the holder of a financial obligation from a financial loss in the event of a default. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the fourth fiscal quarter following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedDuringFourthQuarterFollowingBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the eleventh through fifteenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan10AndWithin15YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the sixteenth through twentieth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan15AndWithin20YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the twenty-first through twenty-fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan20AndWithin25YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the twenty-six through thirtieth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan25AndWithin30YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the thirty-first through thirty-five fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan30AndWithin35YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the thirty-six through forty fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThan35AndWithin40YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the sixth through tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanFiveAndWithin10YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanFourAndWithinFiveYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanOneAndWithinTwoYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanThreeAndWithinFourYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium revenue under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be recognized in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 605 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933581&loc=SL5749298-161291 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsFutureExpectedPremiumRevenueToBeRecognizedMoreThanTwoAndWithinThreeYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the fourth fiscal quarter following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedDuringFourthQuarterFollowingBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the eleventh through the fifteenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan10AndWithin15YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the sixteenth through the twentieth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan15AndWithin20YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the twenty-first through the twenty-fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan20AndWithin25YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the twenty-six through the thirtieth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan25AndWithin30YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the thirty-first through the thirty-five fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan30AndWithin35YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the thirty-six through the fortieth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThan35AndWithin40YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the sixth through the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanFiveAndWithin10YearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanFourAndWithinFiveYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanOneAndWithinTwoYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanThreeAndWithinFourYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts expected to be collected in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 310 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933075&loc=SL5748726-161290 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumExpectedToBeCollectedMoreThanTwoAndWithinThreeYearsFromBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of premium receivables under financial guarantee insurance contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsPremiumReceivablePremiumExpectedToBeCollected
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration