Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 216	$ 522
Total assets	11,787	14,836
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	8,117	11,095
Commitments and contingencies (Refer to Note 13)
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value $1 per share; authorized shares--10,000,000; issued and outstanding--none	0	0
Common stock, par value $1 per share; authorized shares--400,000,000; issued shares--283,529,999 and 281,833,618	284	282
Additional paid-in capital	3,153	3,138
Retained earnings	2,965	3,038
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $2 and $51	35	(61)
Treasury stock, at cost--147,806,592 and 130,303,241 shares	(2,779)	(2,668)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	3,658	3,729
Preferred stock of subsidiary	12	12
Total equity	3,670	3,741
Total liabilities and equity	11,787	14,836
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Assets
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $5,131 and $5,155)	5,295	5,145
Investments carried at fair value	73	177
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $231 and $322)	227	291
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $756 and $720)	756	721
Other investments (includes investments at fair value of $6 and $13)	9	16
Total investments	6,360	6,350
Cash and cash equivalents	191	464
Premiums receivable	707	792
Deferred acquisition costs	137	168
Insurance loss recoverable	528	577
Deferred income taxes, net	963	951
Other assets	143	156
Liabilities:
Unearned premium revenue	1,344	1,591
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	513	516
Long-term debt	1,975	1,889
Medium-term notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $106 and $161)	932	1,016
Investment agreements	418	462
Derivative liabilities	383	314
Other liabilities	229	211
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets
Investments carried at fair value	270	932
Other assets	27	11
Cash	25	58
Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $573 and $2,401)	890	2,689
Loans receivable at fair value	1,142	1,292
Loan repurchase commitments	404	396
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	0	45
Variable interest entity notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $1,433 and $2,362)	$ 2,323	$ 5,051