<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000814585-18-000024.txt : 20180308
<SEC-HEADER>0000814585-18-000024.hdr.sgml : 20180308
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180308135502
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000814585-18-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180306
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180308
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180308

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Harris Jonathan C.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001717554

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09583
		FILM NUMBER:		18675965

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MBIA INC.
		STREET 2:		1 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			PURCHASE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10577

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
</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>2018-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001717554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Harris Jonathan C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MBIA INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 MANHATTANVILLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PURCHASE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10577</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Counsel and Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18939</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99706</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29059</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>128765</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock granted pursuant to long-term incentive award under 16b-3 exemption. This restricted stock vests in one-third increments on each of the third, fourth, and fifth anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock granted pursuant to long-term incentive award under 16b-3 exemption. The shares issued are the target number of performance-based restricted stock that may be earned (in a range of 0% to 200% of the target number of shares issued) based on the achievement of certain performance metrics as of December 31, 2020. Any shares that are not earned on such date will be forfeited. The
shares that are earned on such date will vest in one-third increments on each of the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to certain continued service conditions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jonathan C. Harris, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-03-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
