Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Other Fair Value Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities	$ 50,000		$ 358,000
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	50,000		351,000
Long-term debt	938,390,000		930,072,000
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Held-to-maturity Securities	100,000		400,000
Other Invested Assets, Carrying Amount	46,800,000		47,400,000
Long-term debt	938,400,000	[1]	930,100,000	[1]
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty Liabilities, Carrying Amount	148,600,000		144,700,000
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Fixed-maturities held to maturity	100,000	[2]	400,000	[2]
Other invested assets fair value disclosure	55,400,000	[2]	54,300,000	[2]
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	1,559,800,000	[1],[2]	1,502,700,000	[1],[2]
Non Derivative Financial Guaranty Liabilities, Estimated Fair Value	$ 215,200,000	[3]	$ 189,100,000	[3]

[1] The carrying amount of long-term debt is net of the equity component, which is accounted for under the accounting standard for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion (including partial cash settlement). The fair value is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. See Note 10 for further information.

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

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