Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Other Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	$ 2,769,000		$ 2,748,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	60,300,000
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	2,800,000	[1]	2,700,000	[1]
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	65,000,000	[1]	62,800,000	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | 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	2,700,000	[1]	2,600,000	[1]
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	60,300,000	[1]	61,000,000	[1]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	674,900,000	[1]	818,600,000	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	588,700,000	[1]	471,300,000	[1]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty liabilities	282,900,000	[2]	342,300,000	[2]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty liabilities	$ 324,900,000	[2]	$ 425,700,000	[2]

[1] Included in Level II of the fair value hierarchy

[2] Included in Level III of the fair value hierarchy