Schedule II (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 160	$ 167	$ 83	$ 280
Total assets	4,696	5,751
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	4,996	5,602
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—283,186,115 and 283,186,115	283	283
Additional paid-in capital	2,931	2,962
Retained earnings (deficit)	(458)	(13)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	100	115	(2)	(156)
Treasury stock, at cost—228,630,003 and 229,508,967 shares	(3,169)	(3,211)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	(313)	136
Total liabilities and equity	$ 4,696	$ 5,751
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized shares	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized shares	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, issued shares	283,186,115	283,186,115
Treasury stock, shares	228,630,003	229,508,967
Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $556 and $621)	$ 618	$ 719
Investments carried at fair value	0	1
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $3 and $10)	4	1
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $52 and $31)	52	31
Total investments	674	752
Cash and cash equivalents	15	26	$ 11	$ 40
Investment in wholly-owned subsidiaries	336	728
Other assets	5	139
Total assets	1,030	1,645
Liabilities:
Investment agreements	274	269
Long-term debt	306	312
Affiliate loans payable	579	695
Income taxes payable	3	12
Derivative liabilities	130	164
Other liabilities	51	57
Total liabilities	1,343	1,509
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—283,186,115 and 283,186,115	283	283
Additional paid-in capital	2,931	2,962
Retained earnings (deficit)	(458)	(13)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	100	115
Treasury stock, at cost—228,630,003 and 229,508,967 shares	(3,169)	(3,211)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	(313)	136
Total liabilities and equity	1,030	1,645
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, amortized cost	556	621
Investments pledged as collateral, amortized cost	3	10
Short-term investments, amortized cost	$ 52	$ 31
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, authorized shares	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, issued	0	0
Preferred stock, outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, authorized shares	400,000,000	400,000,000
Common stock, issued shares	283,186,115	283,186,115
Treasury stock, shares	228,630,003	229,508,967