Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Other Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	$ 2,748,000	$ 11,416,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	2,600,000	10,800,000
Short Term Investments (Carried at Cost) Fair Value Disclosure	0	1,600,000
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	61,000,000	59,600,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	818,600,000	964,800,000
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty liabilities	342,300,000	406,100,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring \| Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	2,700,000	11,400,000
Short Term Investments (Carried at Cost) Fair Value Disclosure	0	1,600,000
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	62,800,000	58,400,000
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	471,300,000	1,082,500,000
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty liabilities	$ 425,700,000	$ 531,100,000

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investments in debt securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity and that have scheduled maturities more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer; such investments are normally measured at amortized cost (carrying value) unless circumstances indicate that the value to be recovered from the investment is less than its carried amount. The held-to-maturity category is for those securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity.

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