Schedule II - (Notes to Condensed Financial Statements) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair value of securities pledged as collateral	$ 457	$ 532
Securities posted as collateral to derivative counterparties	259	198
Cash and money market securities pledged as collateral under investment agreements	522	782	$ 1,258	$ 990
National Public Finance Guarantee Holdings, Inc. [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries	114	220	214
Trifinium Holdings Limited [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries	1	5
MBIA Services Corporation [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries	1		2
CapMAC Holdings Inc. [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries			$ 3
MBIA Inc. [Member]
Liquid assets	416	498
Fair value of securities pledged as collateral	402	273
Securities posted as collateral to derivative counterparties	259	199
Fair Value Of The Collateral Pledged By MBIA Inc [Member] \| MBIA Inc. [Member]
Cash and money market securities pledged as collateral under investment agreements	$ 12	$ 26

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.

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Amount of right to receive securities collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities.

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Fair value of financial instrument held by the entity for its own account (proprietary securities) for trading or investment purposes that are carried at fair value and pledged to counterparties as collateral for financing transactions.

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