Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Other Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities	$ 358,000		$ 679,000
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	351,000		676,000
Long-term debt	930,072,000		663,571,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities			700,000
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	47,400,000		48,700,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities	400,000		700,000
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	47,400,000		48,700,000
Long-term debt	930,100,000		663,600,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | 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	400,000	[1]	700,000	[1]
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	54,300,000	[1]	57,400,000	[1]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,502,700,000	[1]	704,800,000	[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, Carrying Amount	144,700,000		232,900,000
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, Estimated Fair Value	$ 189,100,000	[2]	$ 308,100,000	[2]

[1] These estimated fair values would be classified in Level II of the fair value hierarchy.

[2] These estimated fair values would be classified in Level III of the fair value hierarchy.