Note 9 - Losses and LAE Losses and LAE for Mortgage Insurance (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Recoverable	$ (42,358)	$ (66,385)	$ (86,047)
Total reserve for losses and LAE	2,185,421	3,149,936	3,310,902
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses
Mortgage insurance reserves	2,164,353	3,083,608	3,247,900
Financial Guaranty Segment
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses
Financial guaranty reserves	21,068	66,328	63,002
Smart Home [Member]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Recoverable		$ (46,800)

The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amount of benefits the ceding insurer expects to recover on insurance policies ceded to other insurance entities as of the balance sheet date for all guaranteed benefit types.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

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- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to casualty insurance insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 18

-Article 12

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437

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- Definition

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to financial default insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date) and the amount needed to provide for the estimated ultimate cost required to investigate and settle claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before a particular date (ordinarily, the balance sheet date), whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933001&loc=SL5747862-161289

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)(5)(vii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6933314&loc=SL5749324-161292

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