Schedule II - (Notes to Condensed Financial Statements) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Dividends from subsidiaries	$ 118	$ 114
Fair value of securities pledged as collateral	416	457
Securities posted as collateral to derivative counterparties	276	259
Cash and money market securities pledged as collateral under investment agreements	187	522	$ 782	$ 1,258
National Public Finance Guarantee Holdings, Inc. [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries	118	114	220
Trifinium Holdings Limited [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries		1	$ 5
MBIA Services Corporation [Member]
Dividends from subsidiaries		1
MBIA Inc. [Member]
Liquid assets	403
Fair value of securities pledged as collateral	394	402
Securities posted as collateral to derivative counterparties	276	259
Fair Value Of The Collateral Pledged By MBIA Inc [Member] \| MBIA Inc. [Member]
Money market securities pledged as collateral under investment agreements	$ 6	$ 12

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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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This element represents disclosure of the aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries.

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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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Investments which are intended to be sold in the short term (usually less than one year or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) including trading securities, available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities, and other short-term investments not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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