Note 9 - Reinsurance Captive and Smart Home Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			84 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 Smart Home [Member] transaction	Dec. 31, 2012 Smart Home [Member] transaction	Dec. 31, 2011 Smart Home [Member] transaction	Dec. 31, 2010 Smart Home [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Captives [Member] transaction	Dec. 31, 2012 Captives [Member] reinsurer	Dec. 31, 2011 Captives [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Captives [Member]
Ceded Credit Risk [Line Items]
Captive Reinsurers Minimum Capitalization Percentage To Risk Assumed										10.00%
Number Of Aggregate Excess Of Loss Transactions Completed With Special Purpose Reinsurers						4
Number of Reinsurance Transactions Terminated					1		2		2
Contracts in Force Subject to Participation Through Reinsurance, Terminations, Value					$ 243,000,000		$ 41,000,000				$ 6,000,000,000
Contracts in Force Subject to Participation Through Reinsurance, Percentage						1.10%	2.70%
Amount of New Business Being Placed Into Captive Reinsurance Arrangements										0
Net Cash (Paid) Received For Commutations, Terminations And Recaptures	240,110,000	92,599,000	(85,657,000)	835,700,000							321,000,000
Contracts in Force Ceded Under Captive Reinsurance Arrangements						400,000,000	800,000,000			275,000,000	340,800,000
Reinsurance recoverables	89,204,000	157,985,000		89,204,000		6,600,000	67,900,000			82,200,000	90,100,000
Percentage of Ceded Losses Recoverable Attributable To Two Captive Reinsurers	44.30%			44.30%
Number Of Captive Reinsurers Accounting For Largest Combined Percentage Of Ceded Losses Recoverable										2
Ceded Premiums Written	117,362,000	37,349,000	89,855,000			400,000	8,800,000	9,800,000		23,300,000	28,600,000	80,100,000
Ceded Premiums Earned, Property and Casualty						400,000	8,800,000	9,800,000		23,400,000	28,800,000	83,400,000
Reinsurance Costs and Recoveries, Net	$ 34,700,000	$ 84,500,000	$ 134,700,000