<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814585</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MBIA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001414565</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001414561</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Warburg Pincus X, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001414564</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Warburg Pincus X GP L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001621874</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WPP GP LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001621242</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Warburg Pincus Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001621224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Warburg Pincus Partners GP LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000929408</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARBURG PINCUS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NEW YORK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>100173147</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001162870</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239318</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAYE CHARLES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001220638</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Landy Joseph P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27250000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20283294</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed on behalf of Warburg Pincus Private Equity X, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and its affiliated limited partnership (&quot;WP X&quot;), Warburg Pincus X, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;WP X LP&quot;) and the general partner of WP X, Warburg Pincus X GP L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;WP X GP&quot;) and the general partner of WP X LP, WPP GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;WPP GP&quot;) and the general partner of WP X GP, Warburg Pincus Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;WP Partners&quot;) and the managing member of WPP GP, Warburg Pincus Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (&quot;WPP GP LLC&quot;) and the general partner of WP Partners, Warburg Pincus &amp; Co., a New York general partnership (&quot;WP&quot;) and the managing member of WPP GP LLC,</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(continued from Footnote 1) Warburg Pincus LLC, a New York limited liability company (&quot;WP LLC&quot;) that manages WP X, and Charles R. Kaye and Joseph P. Landy, each a Managing General Partner of WP and Managing Member and Co-Chief Executive Officer of WP LLC (each of the foregoing, a &quot;Warburg Pincus Reporting Person&quot; and collectively, the &quot;Warburg Pincus Reporting Persons&quot;). Messrs. Kaye and Landy may be deemed to control WP X, WP X LP, WP X GP, WPP GP, WP Partners, WPP GP LLC, WP and WP LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The 20,283,294 shares beneficially owned include shares of Common Stock as well as 1,910,417 shares of Common Stock underlying the warrants exercisable for Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Prior to the transaction reported herein, WP X was the holder of (a) 45,622,877 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;) of MBIA Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) and (b) warrants exercisable for 1,910,417 shares of Common Stock.  On May 22, 2015 WP X sold 27,250,000 shares of Common Stock to BTIG, LLC for $8.73 per share, pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2015, among WP X, Warburg Pincus X Partners, L.P., the Issuer, and BTIG, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of the Warburg Pincus Reporting Persons, other than WP X, may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in an indeterminate portion of the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (&quot;Common Stock&quot;) of MBIA, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;), that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by WP X. Each Warburg Pincus Reporting Person, other than WP X, disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the Common Stock of the Issuer and the warrants exercisable for Common Stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by WP X, except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Information with respect to each of the Warburg Pincus Reporting Persons is given solely by such Warburg Pincus Reporting Persons, and no Warburg Pincus Reporting Person has responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of information supplied by another Warburg Pincus Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert B. Knauss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
