Note 7 - Investments Total Debt and Equity Securities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Fixed maturities held to maturity
Total held to maturity amortized cost	$ 679,000		$ 2,640,000
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	676,000		2,748,000
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	39,481,000		120,757,000
Equity securities available for sale
Available-for-sale Equity Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	88,260,000		114,425,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	112,139,000		128,424,000
Total debt and equity securities
Amortized Cost	128,420,000		237,822,000
Fair Value	153,511,000		249,905,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	25,501,000		18,899,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	410,000		6,816,000
Debt Securities
Fixed maturities held to maturity
Total held to maturity amortized cost	679,000		2,640,000
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	676,000		2,748,000
Gross unrealized gains	3,000		115,000
Gross unrealized losses	6,000		7,000
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	39,481,000		120,757,000
Fair value	40,696,000		118,733,000
Gross unrealized gains	1,619,000		3,916,000
Gross unrealized losses	404,000		5,940,000
US government and agency securities
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	4,969,000		10,931,000
Fair value	5,305,000		13,630,000
Gross unrealized gains	336,000		2,699,000
Gross unrealized losses	0		0
State and municipal obligations
Fixed maturities held to maturity
Total held to maturity amortized cost	679,000		2,640,000
Held-to-maturity Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	676,000		2,748,000
Gross unrealized gains	3,000		115,000
Gross unrealized losses	6,000		7,000
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	17,922,000		87,083,000
Fair value	17,995,000		82,692,000
Gross unrealized gains	116,000		485,000
Gross unrealized losses	43,000		4,876,000
Corporate bonds and notes
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	15,618,000		17,267,000
Fair value	16,369,000		16,610,000
Gross unrealized gains	1,110,000		390,000
Gross unrealized losses	359,000		1,047,000
RMBS
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	50,000		1,308,000
Fair value	51,000		1,360,000
Gross unrealized gains	3,000		53,000
Gross unrealized losses	2,000		1,000
CMBS
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost			1,660,000
Fair value			1,669,000
Gross unrealized gains			25,000
Gross unrealized losses			16,000
Other ABS
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost			1,019,000
Fair value			1,177,000
Gross unrealized gains			158,000
Gross unrealized losses			0
Other investments
Fixed maturities available for sale securities
Amortized cost	922,000		1,489,000
Fair value	976,000		1,595,000
Gross unrealized gains	54,000		106,000
Gross unrealized losses	0		0
Equity securities
Equity securities available for sale
Available-for-sale Equity Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	88,260,000	[1]	114,425,000	[2]
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	112,139,000	[1]	128,424,000	[2]
Gross unrealized gains	23,879,000	[1]	14,868,000	[2]
Gross unrealized losses	0	[1]	869,000	[2]
Equity Securities Additional Disclosure [Abstract]
Diversified Equity Mutual Funds	98,900,000		116,000,000
Preferred And Common Stocks	$ 13,200,000		$ 12,400,000

[1] Comprising broadly diversified domestic equity mutual funds ($98.9 million fair value) and various preferred and common stocks invested across numerous companies and industries ($13.2 million fair value).

[2] Comprising broadly diversified domestic equity mutual funds ($116.0 million fair value) and various preferred and common stocks invested across numerous companies and industries ($12.4 million fair value).