Note 13 - Income Taxes Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	$ 32,600,000
Components of Deferred Tax Assets [Abstract]
Accrued expenses	79,460,000	51,049,000
Unearned premiums	54,993,000	36,060,000
Premium deficiency reserves	625,000	1,290,000
Net operating loss (NOL)	642,333,000	666,633,000
Differences in fair value of derivative and other financial instruments	130,773,000	54,335,000
Rescission premium	5,964,000	16,797,000
State net operating loss carryforward	33,095,000	31,744,000
Foreign tax credit carryforward	26,292,000	26,292,000
Depreciation	6,366,000	5,478,000
Partnership Investments	75,100,000	65,704,000
Loss reserves	28,257,000	39,540,000
Deferred Tax Asset, Residual Interest in Limited Purpose Vehicle	22,957,000	24,084,000
Other	40,657,000	53,319,000
Total deferred tax assets	1,146,872,000	1,072,325,000
Components of Deferred Tax Liabilities [Abstract]
Deferred policy acquisition cost	23,435,000	30,882,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Convertible and Other Long-term Debt	47,579,000	28,449,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Unrealized Gains on Trading Securities	20,030,000	8,783,000
Foreign currency	18,000	18,000
Other	15,628,000	14,536,000
Total deferred tax liabilities	106,690,000	82,668,000
Valuation Allowance, Amount	1,022,280,000	989,657,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	17,902,000	0
Additional Paid-in Capital
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Line Items]
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Change in Amount	$ (27,000,000)