Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146	$ 187
Premiums receivable	369	409
Insurance loss recoverable	511	504
Assets held for sale		555
Deferred income taxes, net	0	970
Loan repurchase commitments	407	404
Total assets	9,095	11,137
Liabilities:
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	979	541
Long-term debt	2,121	1,986
Liabilities held for sale		346
Total liabilities	7,670	7,898
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-- 283,717,973 and 283,989,999	284	284
Additional paid-in capital	3,171	3,160
Retained earnings	1,095	2,700
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $16 and $37	(19)	(128)
Treasury stock, at cost-- 192,233,526 and 148,789,168 shares	(3,118)	(2,789)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	1,413	3,227
Preferred stock of subsidiary	12	12
Total equity	1,425	3,239
Total liabilities and equity	9,095	11,137
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Assets
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $3,728 and $4,713)	3,712	4,694
Investments carried at fair value	200	146
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $147 and $234)	148	233
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $589 and $552)	589	552
Other investments (includes investments at fair value of $4 and $5)	6	8
Total investments	4,655	5,633
Cash and cash equivalents	122	163
Premiums receivable	369	409
Deferred acquisition costs	95	118
Insurance loss recoverable	511	504
Assets held for sale	0	555
Deferred income taxes, net	0	970
Other assets	128	113
Liabilities:
Unearned premium revenue	752	958
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	979	541
Long-term debt	2,121	1,986
Medium-term notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $115 and $101)	765	895
Investment agreements	337	399
Derivative liabilities	262	299
Liabilities held for sale	0	346
Other liabilities	165	233
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets
Investments carried at fair value	182	255
Other assets	33	33
Cash	24	24
Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $916 and $876)	890	890
Loans receivable at fair value	1,679	1,066
Loan repurchase commitments	407	404
Liabilities:
Variable interest entity notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $1,069 and $1,351)	$ 2,289	$ 2,241