v2.4.0.8

Investments - Contractual Maturities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
--- | --- | ---
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |
Due in one year or less, Amortized cost | $ 54,893 |
Due after one year through five years, Amortized cost | 422,796 |
Due after five years through ten years, Amortized cost | 1,226,383 |
Due after ten years, Amortized cost | 91,606 |
Total before securities without single maturities, Amortized cost | 1,795,678 |
Total Amortized cost | 3,096,675 |
Due in one year or less, Fair value | 56,249 |
Due after one year through five years, Fair value | 459,480 |
Due after five years through ten years, Fair value | 1,277,651 |
Due after ten years, Fair value | 95,601 |
Total before securities without single maturities, Fair value | 1,888,981 |
Fair value | 3,168,819 | 3,162,067
Due in one year or less, % of Total fair value | 1.80% |
Due after one year through five years, % of Total fair value | 14.50% |
Due after five years through ten years, % of Total fair value | 40.30% |
Due after ten years, % of Total fair value | 3.00% |
Total before securities without single maturities, % of Total fair value | 59.60% |
% of Total fair value | 100.00% | 100.00%
U.S. agency bonds – mortgage-backed [Member] |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of securities without single maturities | 1,257,045 |
Fair value of securities without single maturities | 1,235,470 |
Fair value | 1,235,470 | 1,262,655
% of Total fair value for securities without single maturities | 39.00% |
Other mortgage-backed securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amortized cost of securities without single maturities | 43,952 |
Fair value of securities without single maturities | 44,368 |
Fair value | $ 44,368 | $ 33,444
% of Total fair value for securities without single maturities | 1.40% |

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Ten Years, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsPercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available for Sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Before Securities Without Single Maturities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesBeforeSecuritiesWithoutSingleMaturities
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Next Twelve Months, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesNextTwelveMonthsPercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, without Single Maturity Date, Fair Value, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithoutSingleMaturityDateFairValuePercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Six Through Ten, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearSixThroughTenPercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Year Two Through Five, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTwoThroughFivePercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available for Sale Securities, Debt Securities, Before Securities Without Single Maturities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableforSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBeforeSecuritiesWithoutSingleMaturities
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available for Sale Securities, Debt Securities, Percent of Total Fair Value, Before Securities Without Debt Maturities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValueBeforeSecuritiesWithoutDebtMaturities
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Available-for-sale Securities, Percent of Total Fair Value + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | mhld_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesPercentOfTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | mhld_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, maturing in the sixth fiscal year through the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the sixth fiscal year through the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, maturing in the second fiscal year through the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the second fiscal year through the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, maturing after the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing after the tenth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, which include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, that do not have a single maturity date and which the entity has decided to disclose separately rather than allocating the cost over several maturity groupings. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments. + 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 210.5-02.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithoutSingleMaturityDateAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value that do not have a single maturity date and which the entity has decided to disclose separately rather than allocating the fair value over several maturity groupings. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27198-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithoutSingleMaturityDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28360136&loc=d3e22054-111558 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6871852&loc=d3e26610-111562 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (aa) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 320 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)-(g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62557-112803 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration