Schedule II (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 187	$ 522	$ 782	$ 1,258
Total assets	11,137	14,836	16,263
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,986	1,889
Derivative liabilities	66	88
Total liabilities	7,898	11,095
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-- 283,989,999 and 281,833,618	284	282
Additional paid-in capital	3,160	3,138
Retained earnings	2,700	3,038
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(128)	(61)	21	(86)
Treasury stock, at cost-- 148,789,168 and 130,303,241 shares	(2,789)	(2,668)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	3,227	3,729
Total liabilities and equity	11,137	14,836
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, amortized cost	$ 5,450	$ 6,160
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized shares	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized shares	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, issued shares	283,989,999	281,833,618
Treasury stock, shares	148,789,168	130,303,241
Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $687 and $749)	$ 725	$ 801
Investments carried at fair value	6	7
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $242 and $329)	233	291
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $278 and $245)	278	245
Other investments	2	4
Total investments	1,244	1,348
Cash and cash equivalents	13	35	$ 100	$ 140
Investment in wholly-owned subsidiaries	3,673	4,085
Deferred income taxes, net	1,003	991
Other assets	107	103
Total assets	6,040	6,562
Liabilities:
Investment agreements	361	423
Long-term debt	576	575
Affiliate loans payable	901	1,022
Income taxes payable	696	573
Other liabilities	279	240
Total liabilities	2,813	2,833
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-- 283,989,999 and 281,833,618	284	282
Additional paid-in capital	3,160	3,138
Retained earnings	2,700	3,038
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(128)	(61)
Treasury stock, at cost-- 148,789,168 and 130,303,241 shares	(2,789)	(2,668)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	3,227	3,729
Total liabilities and equity	6,040	6,562
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, amortized cost	687	749
Investments pledged as collateral, amortized cost	242	329
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, amortized cost	$ 278	$ 245
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized shares	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized shares	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, issued shares	283,989,999	281,833,618
Treasury stock, shares	148,789,168	130,303,241