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Insurance In Force (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Transactions guaranteed by MBIA on behalf of various investment management service affiliates | $ 3,400,000,000 | $ 4,400,000,000 |
Amount available under these letters of credit and trust arrangements | 8,000,000 |  |
Aggregate amount of insurance in force ceded to reinsurers | 6,000,000,000 | 7,500,000,000 |
Aggregate amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurers | 3,420,000,000 | 4,300,000,000 |
Recoveries received on claims for financial guarantee policies under reinsurance contracts | 4,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 21,000,000
Ceding commissions from reinsurance | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 7,000,000
Financial Guaranty Insurance Company [Member] |  |  |
Third party reinsurance | 4,400,000,000 | 9,100,000,000 |
Amount of insurance in force for FGIC policies | 7,800,000,000 | 16,100,000,000 |
Guarantees Of Derivative Contracts [Member] |  |  |
Maximum amount of future guarantee payments | 51,900,000,000 |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, minimum (Years) | 1 year |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, maximum (Years) | 70 years |  |
Derivative liabilities | 2,900,000,000 | 4,800,000,000 |
Investment Agreement Contracts and MTNs [Member] |  |  |
Maximum amount of future guarantee payments | $ 3,400,000,000 |  |
Future guarantee payments, maturity range, minimum (years) | 1 year |  |
Future guarantee payments, maturity range, maximum (years) | 33 years |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 1 |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 45 |  |

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- 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 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 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 13 -Article 9 Reference 3: 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. + Details
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- 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
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