Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 217	$ 83
Total assets	6,632	7,284
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	6,135	6,445
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—283,433,401 and 283,433,401	283	283
Additional paid-in capital	2,961	2,999
Retained earnings	232	607
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $8 and $8	91	(2)
Treasury stock, at cost—211,272,995 and 204,000,108 shares	(3,083)	(3,061)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	484	826
Preferred stock of subsidiary	13	13
Total equity	497	839
Total liabilities and equity	6,632	7,284
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $2,559 and $2,705)	2,720	2,820
Investments carried at fair value	187	209
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $6 and $15)	1	10
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $247 and $423)	245	423
Total investments	3,153	3,462
Cash and cash equivalents	212	75
Premiums receivable (net of allowance for credit losses $4 and $-)	240	249
Deferred acquisition costs	58	60
Insurance loss recoverable	1,607	1,694
Other assets	116	115
Liabilities:
Unearned premium revenue	464	482
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	966	901
Long-term debt	2,261	2,228
Medium-term notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $98 and $108)	663	680
Investment agreements	295	304
Derivative liabilities	206	175
Other liabilities	120	136
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments:
Investments carried at fair value	75	83
Other assets	33	26
Cash	5	8
Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (net of allowance for credit losses $46 and $-, fair value $572 and $892)	529	890
Loans receivable at fair value	98	136
Loan repurchase commitments	506	486
Total assets	1,200	1,600
Liabilities:
Variable interest entity notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $331 and $403)	1,160	1,539
Total liabilities	$ 1,200	$ 1,500