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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable (Details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | $ 6,003,474,000 | $ 5,968,712,000
Subrogation recoverable | (489,237,000) | (498,478,000)
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | 5,514,237,000 | 5,470,234,000
Claims [Member] |  |
Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | 3,319,248,000 | 3,374,224,000
Subrogation recoverable | 695,918,000 | 530,091,000
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | 4,015,166,000 | 3,904,315,000
Accrued Interest [Member] |  |
Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | 289,865,000 | 0
Subrogation recoverable | 69,955,000 | 0
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | 359,820,000 | 0
Claims and Loss Expenses [Member] |  |
Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | 4,324,634,000 | 4,895,277,000
Subrogation recoverable | 138,738,000 | 135,610,000
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | 4,463,372,000 | 5,030,887,000
Recoveries [Member] |  |
Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | (1,488,476,000) | (1,797,805,000)
Subrogation recoverable | (1,393,848,000) | (1,164,179,000)
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | (2,882,324,000) | (2,961,984,000)
Unearned Premium Reserve [Member] |  |
Components of Loss and Loss Expense Reserves and Subrogation Recoverable [Line Items] |  |
Loss and loss expense reserves | (441,797,000) | (502,984,000)
Subrogation recoverable | 0 | 0
Claim liability reported on Balance Sheet, before reinsurance | $ (441,797,000) | $ (502,984,000)

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- Definition The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to financial default 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/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933001&loc=SL5747862-161289 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a)(5)(vii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292 + Details
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- Definition The estimated amount as of the balance sheet date to be received by an insurer from the sale of property (usually damaged) on which the insurer has paid a total claim to the insured and has obtained title to the property and the right of an insurer to pursue any course of recovery of damages, in its name or in the name of the policyholder, against a third party who is liable for costs relating to an insured event that have been paid by the insurer. Estimated salvage and subrogation is generally deducted from the liability for unpaid claims. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 30 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13779-158432 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 30 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482241&loc=d3e13783-158432 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the claim liability, reported on or included in the statement of financial position, related to financial guarantee insurance contracts and presented in the schedule of insured financial obligations with credit deterioration in the context of each surveillance grouping or category used by management to monitor and track potential deterioration in the credit worthiness of the insured party's ability to meet its financial obligations related to the contracts underlying financial guarantee insurance contracts the entity has issued. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 55 -Paragraph 34 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933462&loc=SL5751140-161288 + Details
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