Schedule II (Condensed Balance Sheets) (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets [Abstract]
Total assets	$ 3,375	$ 4,696
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	4,251	4,996
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	2,925	2,931
Retained earnings (deficit)	(653)	(458)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(283)	100	$ 115	$ (2)
Treasury stock, at cost—228,333,444 and 228,630,003 shares	(3,154)	(3,169)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	(882)	(313)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 3,375	$ 4,696
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	228,333,444	228,630,003
Parent Company [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $463 and $556)	$ 431	$ 618
Investments pledged as collateral, at fair value (amortized cost $- and $3)	0	4
Short-term investments held as available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost $95 and $52)	95	52
Total investments	526	674
Cash and cash equivalents	16	15	$ 26	$ 11
Investment in wholly-owned subsidiaries	0	336
Other assets	9	5
Total assets	551	1,030
Liabilities:
Investment agreements	233	274
Long-term debt	278	306
Affiliate loans payable	535	579
Income taxes payable	0	3
Derivative liabilities	48	130
Accumulated loss of wholly-owned subsidiaries	333	0
Other liabilities	6	51
Total liabilities	1,433	1,343
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	2,925	2,931
Retained earnings (deficit)	(653)	(458)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(283)	100
Treasury stock, at cost—228,333,444 and 228,630,003 shares	(3,154)	(3,169)
Total shareholders' equity of MBIA Inc.	(882)	(313)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	551	1,030
Fixed-maturity securities held as available-for-sale, amortized cost	463	556
Investments pledged as collateral, amortized cost	0	3
Short-term investments, amortized cost	$ 95	$ 52
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	228,333,444	228,630,003