Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Gains And Losses On Fair Value Option Included In The Company's Consolidated Statements Of Operations) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange		$ 52	$ (17)	$ (24)
Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange		105	25	130
Investments Carried At Fair Value [Member] | Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[1]	15	(11)	8
Fixed Maturity Securities Held At Fair Value - VIE [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]	95	(25)	(22)
Loans Receivable and Other Instruments at Fair Value [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] | Residential Mortgage Loans [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]	35	(100)	(158)
Loans Receivable and Other Instruments at Fair Value [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member] | Corporate Loans and Other Instruments [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]		11	52
Loan Repurchase Commitments [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]	68	12	3
Other Assets [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]	4		(3)
Medium Term Notes [Member] | Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[1]	1	19	(14)
Other Liabilities [Member] | Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[3]	(2)	(2)
Variable Interest Entity Notes [Member] | Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable [Line Items]
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	[2]	$ (89)	$ 118	$ 230

[1] Reported within “Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange” on MBIA’s consolidated statements of operations.

[2] Reported within “Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange-VIE” on MBIA’s consolidated statements of operations.

[3] Reported within “Other net realized gains (losses)” on MBIA’s consolidated statements of operations.