<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000814585-17-000012.txt : 20170621
<SEC-HEADER>0000814585-17-000012.hdr.sgml : 20170621
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170621174942
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000814585-17-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170619
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170621
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170621

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MBIA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814585
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURETY INSURANCE [6351]
		IRS NUMBER:				061185706
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			PURCHASE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10577
		BUSINESS PHONE:		914-273-4545

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 301
		CITY:			PURCHASE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10577

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GILBERT STEVEN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001105209

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09583
		FILM NUMBER:		17923634

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		540 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		40TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-06-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814585</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MBIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mbi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001105209</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GILBERT STEVEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MBIA INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD, SUITE 301</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PURCHASE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10577</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.96</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>132073</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37033</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.72</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>169106</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.94 to $8.97, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Company, any security holder of the Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $8.69 to $8.72, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Company, any security holder of the Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/Jonathan C. Harris, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
