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Insurance in Force (Narrative) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Transactions guaranteed by MBIA on behalf of affiliated companies | $ 2,200 | $ 2,600 |
Derivative liabilities | 88 | 246 |
Amount available under these letters of credit and trust arrangements | 33 |  |
Aggregate amount of insurance in force ceded to reinsurers | 9,500 | 11,100 |
Aggregate amount of insured par outstanding ceded to reinsurers | 5,294 | 6,100 |
Recoveries received on claims for financial guarantee policies under reinsurance contracts | 0 | 5 | $ 4
Ceding commissions from reinsurance | 1 | $ 2 | $ 2
Guarantees Of Derivative Contracts [Member] |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure | $ 3,800 |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 1 year |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, minimum (Years) | 1 year |  |
Minimum [Member] | Investment Agreement Contracts and MTNs [Member] |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Future guarantee payments, maturity range, (years) | 1 year |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Insurance in force, expected maturity range, years | 42 years |  |
Guarantees of derivative contracts, maturity range, maximum (Years) | 67 years |  |
Maximum [Member] | Investment Agreement Contracts and MTNs [Member] |  |  |
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] |  |  |
Future guarantee payments, maturity range, (years) | 24 years |  |

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- Definition Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226008-175313 Reference 2: 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=35750535&loc=d3e13495-108611 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312 Reference 4: 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=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611 Reference 5: 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 6: 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 + 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 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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