Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 187	$ 522
Premiums receivable	409	792
Assets held for sale	555
Deferred income taxes, net	970	939
Total assets	11,137	14,836
Liabilities:
Long-term debt	1,986	1,889
Derivative liabilities	66	88
Liabilities held for sale	346
Total liabilities	7,898	11,095
Commitments and contingencies (Refer to Note 20)
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
Preferred stock of subsidiary	12	12
Total equity	3,239	3,741
Total liabilities and equity	11,137	14,836
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Assets
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $4,713 and $5,483)	4,694	5,474
Investments carried at fair value	146	177
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $234 and $322)	233	291
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $552 and $392)	552	392
Other investments (includes investments at fair value of $5 and $13)	8	16
Total investments	5,633	6,350
Cash and cash equivalents	163	464
Premiums receivable	409	792
Deferred acquisition costs	118	168
Insurance loss recoverable	504	577
Assets held for sale	555	0
Deferred income taxes, net	970	951
Other assets	113	156
Liabilities:
Unearned premium revenue	958	1,591
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	541	516
Long-term debt	1,986	1,889
Medium-term notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $101 and $161)	895	1,016
Investment agreements	399	462
Derivative liabilities	299	314
Liabilities held for sale	346	0
Other liabilities	233	211
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets
Investments carried at fair value	255	932
Other assets	33	11
Cash	24	58
Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $876 and $2,401)	890	2,689
Loans receivable at fair value	1,066	1,292
Loan repurchase commitments	404	396
Liabilities:
Derivative liabilities	0	45
Variable interest entity notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $1,351 and $2,362)	$ 2,241	$ 5,051