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Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts - Summary of Loss Reserve Roll-Forward, Net of Subrogation Recoverable and Reinsurance (Detail) € in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 EUR (€) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2015 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Successor [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ceded Loss And Loss Expenses Paid Not Yet Recovered | $ 143 |  | $ 4,662 |  |  |  | $ (60)
Policyholder Benefits and Claims Incurred, Ceded | (4,383) |  | (6,907) | $ (11,990) | $ (30,727) |  |
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning gross loss and loss expense reserves |  |  |  | 2,858,813 | 3,798,733 |  |
Less reinsurance on loss and loss expense reserves |  |  |  | 44,059 | 100,355 |  |
Beginning balance of net loss and loss expense reserves |  |  |  | 2,814,754 | 3,698,378 |  |
Current year: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
ambc_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseIncurredClaimsCurrentYear |  |  |  | 11,033 | 1,404 |  |
Claim and loss expense payments, net of subrogation and reinsurance |  |  |  | 2,056 | 0 |  |
Total current year |  |  |  | 8,977 | 1,404 |  |
Prior years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in previously established loss and loss expense reserves, gross of RMBS subrogation and net of reinsurance |  |  |  | (207,615) | (414,642) |  |
Claim and loss expense (payments) recoveries, net of subrogation and reinsurance |  |  |  | (950,810) | 61,740 |  |
Change in previously established RMBS subrogation recoveries, net of reinsurance |  |  |  | (87,310) | (31,744) |  |
Liability For Unpaid Claims And Claims Adjustment Expense Change In Loss Reserves Prior Year |  |  |  | 655,885 | (508,126) |  |
Net change in loss and loss expense reserves |  |  |  | 664,862 | (506,722) |  |
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net | 3,479,616 |  | 3,191,656 | 2,814,754 | 3,698,378 |  | $ 2,814,754
Add reinsurance on loss and loss expense reserves | 24,298 |  | 63,657 | 24,298 | 63,657 |  |
Ending gross loss and loss expense reserves | 3,503,914 |  | 3,255,313 | 3,503,914 | 3,255,313 |  |
Euro Member Countries, Euro |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior years: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ending gross loss and loss expense reserves | $ 17,029 | € 15,153 | $ 16,094 | $ 17,029 | $ 16,094 | € 14,415 |

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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/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR) -Number 403 -Paragraph 04 -Subparagraph b + Details
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