XML 97 R49.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, 2014
--- | ---
Insurance [Abstract] |
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2014 | $ 30,343
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2015 | 119,080
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2016 | 112,384
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2017 | 105,925
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2018 | 100,696
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2023 | 444,832
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2028 | 352,220
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2033 | 224,150
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2038 | 85,447
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2043 | 28,756
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2048 | 11,920
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2053 | 2,253
Future premiums expected to be collected, December 31, 2058 | 31
Future premiums expected to be collected, Total | 1,618,037
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2014 | 44,483
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2015 | 161,776
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2016 | 145,435
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2017 | 133,804
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2018 | 124,570
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2023 | 514,973
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2028 | 360,470
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2033 | 209,229
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2038 | 88,255
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2043 | 27,365
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2048 | 12,028
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2053 | 3,324
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, December 31, 2058 | 84
Future expected premiums to be earned, net of reinsurance, Total | $ 1,825,796

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