Note 8 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) (USD $)			3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	27 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Mar. 31, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Dec. 31, 2013 Mortgage Insurance Segment		Mar. 31, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Two Missed Payments [Member] payment	Mar. 31, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Three Missed Payments [Member] payment	Mar. 31, 2014 Mortgage Insurance Segment Default To Claim Rate Assumptions Twelve Or More Missed Payments [Member] payment	Mar. 31, 2014 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment	Mar. 31, 2014 Primary Mortgage Product [Member] First Lien Position [Member] 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1			$ 2,164,353,000		$ 3,083,608,000		$ 3,083,608,000
Less reinsurance recoverables	31,033,000	46,846,000	38,363,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables			2,125,990,000		3,000,370,000		3,000,370,000
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year			142,696,000	[2]	182,534,000	[2]
Prior years			(93,536,000)		(50,578,000)
Total incurred losses and LAE			49,160,000		131,956,000
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid losses and LAE Prior years			306,941,000		309,927,000
Total paid losses and LAE			306,941,000		309,927,000
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables			1,868,209,000		2,822,399,000		2,125,990,000
Add reinsurance recoverables	31,033,000	46,846,000	25,751,000	[1]	72,101,000	[1]	38,363,000	[1]
Balance at December 31			1,893,960,000		2,894,500,000		2,164,353,000
Final Loss Mitigation Activity												13,000,000
Not Final Loss Mitigation Activity													137,200,000
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements			46.00%				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			19.00%
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									2	3	12
Impact To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials [Abstract]
Decrease To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials			219,000,000				247,000,000
Increase To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Future Reinstatements Of Previously Rescinded Policies And Denied Claims			$ 285,000,000				$ 283,000,000

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