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Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Changes In Fair Value Included In The Company's Consolidated Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | $ 13 |  | $ 12 |  | $ (114) |  | $ (36) |
Realized Investment Gains Losses | (11) | [1] | 50 | [1] | (8) | [1] | 6 | [1]
Loan Repurchase Commitments [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | 33 |  | 2 |  | 103 |  | 296 |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | 63 |
Total Changes in Fair Value | 33 |  | 2 |  | 103 |  | 359 |
Fixed-Maturity Securities Held At Fair Value [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | (286) |  | 90 |  | (338) |  | 337 |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | 21 |
Total Changes in Fair Value | (286) |  | 90 |  | (338) |  | 358 |
Other Loans [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | (37) |  | 38 |  | (30) |  | 56 |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total Changes in Fair Value | (37) |  | 38 |  | (30) |  | 56 |
Residential Mortgage Loans [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | (65) |  | (164) |  | 65 |  | 204 |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | 220 |
Total Changes in Fair Value | (65) |  | (164) |  | 65 |  | 424 |
Other Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | (162) |  | (1) |  | (184) |  | (3) |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | 159 |
Total Changes in Fair Value | (162) |  | (1) |  | (184) |  | 156 |
Long-Term Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange | 481 |  | 91 |  | 367 |  | (332) |
Realized Investment Gains Losses |  |  |  |  |  |  | (333) |
Total Changes in Fair Value | $ 481 |  | $ 91 |  | $ 367 |  | $ (665) |
[1] | Reported within the "Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange" and "Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments" line items on MBIA's consolidated statements of operations.

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- Definition Aggregate net gain (loss) on all derivative instruments recognized in earnings during the period, before tax effects. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5618551-113959 + Details
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- Definition The net realized gains or losses on investments during the period, not including gains or losses on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.3(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 325 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6485959&loc=d3e22529-158502 + Details
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