Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 111	$ 83
Total assets	6,551	7,284
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	6,308	6,445
Commitments and contingencies (Refer to Note 13: Commitments and Contingencies)
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	2,960	2,999
Retained earnings	68	607
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of $8 and $8	130	(2)
Treasury stock, at cost--229,505,963 and 204,000,108 shares	(3,211)	(3,061)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	230	826
Preferred stock of subsidiary	13	13
Total equity	243	839
Total liabilities and equity	6,551	7,284
Non Variable Interest Entity [Member]
Investments:
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $2,184 and $2,705)	2,374	2,820
Investments carried at fair value	210	209
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $6 and $15)	1	10
Short-term investments, at fair value (amortized cost $346 and $423)	347	423
Total investments	2,932	3,462
Cash and cash equivalents	107	75
Premiums receivable (net of allowance for credit losses $4 and $-)	229	249
Deferred acquisition costs	53	60
Insurance loss recoverable	1,798	1,694
Other assets	106	115
Liabilities:
Unearned premium revenue	429	482
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves	991	901
Long-term debt	2,318	2,228
Medium-term notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $101 and $108)	686	680
Investment agreements	293	304
Derivative liabilities	228	175
Other liabilities	176	136
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Investments:
Investments carried at fair value	78	83
Other assets	25	26
Cash	4	8
Investments held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $575 and $892)	575	890
Loans receivable at fair value	114	136
Loan repurchase commitments	530	486
Total assets	1,300	1,600
Liabilities:
Variable interest entity notes (includes financial instruments carried at fair value of $343 and $403)	1,187	1,539
Total liabilities	$ 1,200	$ 1,500