XML 131 R120.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Insurance In Force (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Insurance In Force [Line Items] |  |  |
Transactions guaranteed by MBIA on behalf of various investment management service affiliates | $ 4,400,000,000 | $ 4,900,000,000 |
Credit derivative contracts | 1,300,000,000 |  |
Amount available under these letters of credit and trust arrangements | 7,000,000 |  |
Aggregate amount of insurance in force ceded to reinsurers | 7,500,000,000 | 9,800,000,000 |
Third party reinsurance | 9,100,000,000 | 10,400,000,000 |
Amount of insurance in force for FGIC policies | 16,100,000,000 | 18,300,000,000 |
Aggregate amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurers | 4,269,000,000 | 5,700,000,000 |
Recoveries received on claims for financial guarantee policies under reinsurance contracts | 10,000,000 | 21,000,000 | 41,000,000
Ceding commissions from reinsurance | 3,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 6,000,000
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Insurance In Force [Line Items] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 46 |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Insurance In Force [Line Items] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 1 |  |
Guarantees Of Derivative Contracts [Member] |  |  |
Insurance In Force [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum amount of future guarantee payments | 73,100,000,000 |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, maximum (Years) | 1 |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, minimum (Years) | 71 |  |
Derivative liabilities | 4,800,000,000 | 4,400,000,000 |
Investment Agreement Contracts [Member] |  |  |
Insurance In Force [Line Items] |  |  |
Maximum amount of future guarantee payments | $ 4,400,000,000 |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, maximum (Years) | 1 |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, minimum (Years) | 36 |  |

X
- Definition Aggregate Amount Of Insurance In Force Outstanding Ceded To Reinsurers + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_AggregateAmountInsuranceInForceOutstandingCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Aggregate amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_AggregateAmountOfInsuredParOutstandingCededToReinsurers
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount Of Insurance In Force For FGIC Policies + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_AmountOfInsuranceInForceForFgicPolicies
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Insurance in force, expected maturity range + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_InsuranceInForceExpectedMaturityRange
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | mbi_InsuranceInForceLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Third Party Reinsurance + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_ThirdPartyReinsurance
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Transactions guaranteed on behalf of various affiliates + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mbi_TransactionsGuaranteedOnBehalfOfVariousAffiliates
Namespace Prefix: | mbi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Discloses the fair value of the credit derivative (or each group of similar credit derivatives) as of the date of the statement of financial position. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4K -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5708775-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 44DD -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CreditDerivativeCurrentFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The high end of the range of time remaining until maturity when a range is presented for a group of derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeHigherRemainingMaturityRange
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all liabilities resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13495-108611 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number FIN39-1 -Paragraph 10A, 10B -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 133 -Paragraph 4, 17 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The low end of the range of time remaining until maturity when a range is presented for a group of derivatives. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DerivativeLowerRemainingMaturityRange
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fee and commission revenue earned from sources not otherwise specified in the existing taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 13 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Staff Position (FSP) -Number EITF85-24-1 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FeesAndCommissionsOther
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The amount recovered from insurance. These recoveries reduce costs and losses that are reported as a separate line item under operating expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InsuranceRecoveries
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant