Note 8 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	$ 31,033		$ 46,846
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	25,751	[1]	38,363	[1]	72,101	[1]	83,238	[1]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	1,893,960		2,164,353		2,894,500		3,083,608
Mortgage Insurance Segment | First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	1,889,578		2,159,058
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	123,596		169,682
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims	5,679		8,938
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense	4,517		5,439
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	133,792		184,059
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	4,382	[2]	5,295	[2]
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims	347,674		347,698
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense	50,684		51,245
Reinsurance recoverables	25,751	[3]	38,363	[3]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Gross	1,755,786		1,974,999
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	790,529		937,307
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Alt A Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	351,695		384,841
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | A Minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	$ 189,453		$ 215,545

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions and the Reinsurance Transactions. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Does not include our second-lien premium deficiency reserve that is included in other liabilities.

[3] Primarily represents ceded losses on captive transactions and the Reinsurance Transactions.