Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Premiums, fees and reimbursements received	$ 47	$ 86	$ 61
Investment income received	176	205	248
Insured derivative commutations and losses paid	(11)	(56)	(52)
Financial guarantee losses and loss adjustment expenses paid	(489)	(385)	(768)
Proceeds from recoveries and reinsurance	155	61	170
Operating and employee related expenses paid	(77)	(83)	(130)
Interest paid, net of interest converted to principal	(180)	(146)	(177)
Income taxes (paid) received	11	(1)	(4)
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(368)	(319)	(652)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investments	(2,140)	(2,265)	(1,811)
Sales of available-for-sale investments	2,195	2,117	2,256
Paydowns and maturities of available-for-sale investments	857	329	568
Purchases of investments at fair value	(151)	(189)	(263)
Sales, paydowns and maturities of investments at fair value	617	212	326
Sales, paydowns and maturities (purchases) of short-term investments, net	(157)	420	(67)
Paydowns and maturities of loans receivable and other instruments at fair value	74	614	259
Consolidation of variable interest entities	72	0	18
Deconsolidation of variable interest entities	(2)	(7)	0
(Payments) proceeds for derivative settlements	(98)	(24)	(64)
Collateral (to) from counterparties	0	0	4
Capital expenditures	0	(1)	(1)
Other investing	0	0	(23)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	1,267	1,206	1,202
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from investment agreements	15	12	17
Principal paydowns of investment agreements	(25)	(37)	(75)
Principal paydowns of medium-term notes	(57)	(85)	(157)
Proceeds from the MBIA Corp. Financing Facility	0	0	328
Principal paydowns of variable interest entity notes	(765)	(598)	(368)
Principal paydowns of long-term dept	(150)	0	0
Purchases of treasury stock	(106)	(44)	(330)
Other financing	(8)	0	(4)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,096)	(752)	(589)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	(1)	(2)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(197)	134	(41)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	280	146	187
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	83	280	146
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(359)	(296)	(1,605)
Change in:
Premiums receivable	62	60	49
Deferred acquisition costs	12	21	22
Accrued investment income	20	8	11
Unearned premium revenue	(105)	(165)	(206)
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	0	(46)	778
Insurance loss recoverable	(99)	(213)	(681)
Accrued interest payable	106	157	116
Accrued expenses	12	(9)	(29)
Net investment losses related to other-than-temporary impairments	67	5	106
Unrealized (gains) losses on insured derivatives	(25)	(31)	0
Net (gains) losses on financial instruments at fair value and foreign exchange	(157)	(8)	(106)
Other net realized (gains) losses	58	171	(59)
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	13	0	940
Interest on variable interest entities, net	(3)	17	35
Other operating	30	10	(23)
Total adjustments to net income (loss)	(9)	(23)	953
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(368)	(319)	(652)
Supplementary Disclosure of Consolidated Cash Flow Information
Non-cash consideration received from the sale of MBIA UK Insurance Limited	$ 0	$ 0	$ 332