Note 8 - Reinsurance (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Reinsurance, Premiums Written And Earned [Table Text Block]

The effect of reinsurance on net premiums written and earned is as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014			2013			2014			2013
Net premiums written-insurance:
Direct	$	261,301		$	268,886		$	729,261		$	784,180
Assumed	(217		)	(126		)	406			(10,729		)
Ceded	(16,832		)	(17,918		)	(49,342		)	(64,195		)
Net premiums written-insurance	$	244,252		$	250,842		$	680,325		$	709,256
Net premiums earned-insurance:
Direct	$	244,160		$	228,162		$	696,323		$	660,687
Assumed	2,062			1,943			6,141			10,573
Ceded	(19,066		)	(18,121		)	(55,529		)	(53,564		)
Net premiums earned-insurance	$	227,156		$	211,984		$	646,935		$	617,696

Reinsurance Transaction Details [Table Text Block]

The following tables show the amounts related to the QSR Reinsurance Transactions for the periods indicated:

	Initial QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Ceded premiums written	$	4,668	$	5,551	$	15,018	$	17,573
Ceded premiums earned	6,578		7,216		20,188		22,711
Ceding commissions written	1,166		1,388		3,754		4,393

	Second QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2014		2013		2014		2013
Ceded premiums written	$	9,082	$	8,233	$	24,447	$	32,253
Ceded premiums earned	7,699		5,099		21,481		12,220
Ceding commissions written	3,179		2,882		8,557		11,289