This element represents the amount of the change in the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts arising from a change in the amount of net payments of claim liability.

Name:	mbi_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsClaimLiabilitySignificantComponentsOfChangeAmountOfNetPayments
Namespace Prefix:	mbi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts Claim Liability Significant Components Of Change In Assumptions

+ Details

Name:	mbi_FinancialGuaranteeInsuranceContractsClaimLiabilitySignificantComponentsOfChangeInAssumptions
Namespace Prefix:	mbi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves [Line Items]

+ Details

Name:	mbi_LossAndLossAdjustmentExpenseReservesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mbi
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss payments for cases with reserves

+ Details

Name:	mbi_LossPaymentsForCasesWithReserves
Namespace Prefix:	mbi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of the change in the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts arising from the accretion of the discount of the claim liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 163

-Paragraph 30

-Subparagraph f(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)(2)(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of change in the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts arising from a change in the rate used to discount the claim liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 163

-Paragraph 30

-Subparagraph f(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)(2)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the amount of the change in the claim liability related to financial guarantee insurance contracts arising from a change in the timing of the claim liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 163

-Paragraph 30

-Subparagraph f(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)(2)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the reserve account established to account for expected but unspecified losses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Change during the period in the unearned portion of premiums written, excluding the portion amortized into income. Premiums written are initially booked as unearned premiums and are recognized as revenue over the known or estimated life of the policy.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Alternate concept name for the aggregate amount of policy reserves (provided for future obligations including unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses) and policy benefits (liability for future policy benefits) as of the balance sheet date; grouped amount of all the liabilities associated with the company's insurance policies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher AICPA

-Name Statement of Position (SOP)

-Number 94-5

-Paragraph 11

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 7

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph a

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Period Type:	instant

Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves (Schedule Of Loss And Loss Adjustment Expenses Reserve) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Loss And LAE Reserves [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Non Variable Interest Entities [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Non Variable Interest Entities [Member]
Loss And Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves [Line Items]
Gross Loss and LAE Reserve as of beginning balance			$ 1,129	$ 932	$ 1,129
Loss payments for cases with reserves			(431)
Accretion of Claim Liability Discount			12
Changes in Discount Rates			9
Changes in Timing of Payments			37
Changes in Amount of Net Payments			(2)
Changes in assumptions			168
Changes in Unearned Premium Revenue	(495)	(466)	22
Change in LAE Reserves	198	273	(12)
Gross Loss and LAE Reserve as of ending balance			$ 932	$ 932	$ 1,129