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Debt (Narrative) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Jan. 16, 2008
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate principal amount in excess of stated amount | $ 10 |  |  |  |
Surplus notes outstanding | 940 | [1] | $ 940 | [1] | $ 1,000
Surplus notes purchased at par value | 13 |  |  |  |
Senior notes at par value owned by National | 136 |  |  |  |
Surplus notes repurchased at outstanding par value | 47 |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 582 |  | 592 |  |
MBIA Inc Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Accrued interest | $ 8 |  | $ 8 |  |
MBIA Corp Surplus Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt, interest rate | 14.00% |  |  |  |
Interest rate terms | interest rate of 14% until January 15, 2013 and thereafter have an interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 11.26% |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, base reference rate | three-month LIBOR |  |  |  |
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate | 11.26% |  |  |  |
Medium Term Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Annual interest rates, minimum | 0.00% |  | 0.00% |  |
Annual interest rates, maximum | 6.40% |  | 9.08% |  |
Weighted average interest rate | 2.42% |  | 2.44% |  |
Medium Term Notes [Member] | Global Funding Limited [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Par value redeemed | $ 40 |  |  |  |
Weighted average percent of par | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Investment Agreement Obligations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Annual interest rates, minimum | 4.40% |  | 3.48% |  |
Annual interest rates, maximum | 6.89% |  | 7.38% |  |
Weighted average interest rate | 5.56% |  | 5.50% |  |
[1] | Callable on or after January 15, 2018 and every fifth anniversary thereafter at 100.00.

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- Definition Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20 -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 + Details
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