Note 9 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended										1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		18 Months Ended	20 Months Ended	24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Smart Home [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Dec. 31, 2012 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Dec. 31, 2011 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Aug. 31, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Dec. 31, 2011 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment loan	Jul. 12, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Aug. 30, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Jul. 31, 2013 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment loan	Aug. 29, 2015 Scenario, Forecast [Member] Minimum [Member] Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Dec. 31, 2013 Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Twelve Or More Missed Payments [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment payment	Dec. 31, 2013 Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Three Missed Payments [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment payment	Dec. 31, 2013 Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Two Missed Payments [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment payment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1					$ 3,083,608,000		$ 3,247,900,000		$ 3,524,971,000
Less reinsurance recoverables	89,204,000				83,238,000	[1]	151,569,000	[1]	223,254,000	[1]
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables					3,000,370,000		3,096,331,000		3,301,717,000
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year					584,174,000	[2]	899,511,000	[2]	1,127,079,000	[2]
Prior years					(19,526,000)		21,996,000		166,778,000
Total incurred losses and LAE					564,648,000		921,507,000		1,293,857,000
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year					31,399,000	[2]	12,503,000	[2]	39,642,000	[2]
Paid losses and LAE Prior years					1,407,629,000		1,004,965,000		1,459,601,000
Total paid losses and LAE					1,439,028,000		1,017,468,000		1,499,243,000						370,000,000
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables					2,125,990,000		3,000,370,000		3,096,331,000
Add reinsurance recoverables	46,846,000	89,204,000			38,363,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]	151,569,000	[1]
Balance at December 31					2,164,353,000		3,083,608,000		3,247,900,000
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Recoverable	(42,358,000)	(66,385,000)	(86,047,000)	(46,800,000)
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements					47.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions					39.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate Net Of Rescission And Denial Estimates For Insured Loans That Missed Two To Three Monthly Payments					20.00%
Default To Claim Estimate Net Of Rescission And Denial Estimates For Loans That Missed Twelve Or More Monthly Payments					48.00%
Number Of Payments Missed For Insured Loans																				12	3	2
Impact To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials [Abstract]
Decrease To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials					247,000,000		455,000,000
Increase To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Future Reinstatements Of Previously Rescinded Policies And Denied Claims					283,000,000		303,000,000
IBNR Reserve Estimate [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims, Amount					281,900,000		323,000,000
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change in Default To Claim Rate					36,000,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Loans														25,760
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Delinquent Loans																		9,756
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Number of Re-Performing Loans																		4,586
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Financial Instrument, Maximum Exposure											840,000,000		840,000,000
Remaining Exposure on Loans Included in Master Transaction Agreement													0
Total Consideration for Defaulted Loans											625,000,000
Net Consideration for Defaulted Loans											255,000,000
Provision for Loan Losses Expensed													22,000,000
Restricted Investments Held as Collateral for Master Transaction Agreement, Gross											215,000,000
Restricted Investments Held as Collateral for Master Transaction Agreement, Net											205,000,000
Termination Trigger Based on Amount of Restricted Investments																			0
Final Loss Mitigation Activity												6,000,000				10,000,000
Not Final Loss Mitigation Activity																	$ 142,900,000

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions, Smart Home and Reinsurance Transactions. See Note 8 for additional information.

[2] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default.