Schedule II Financial Information of Registrant Parent Company Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Net investment income	$ 16,531		$ 17,143		$ 16,663		$ 15,318		$ 17,722	$ 16,351	$ 17,087	$ 16,961	$ 65,655		$ 68,121	$ 72,679
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(675)		14		(2,901)		(318)		(2,208)	(193)	60	(5,239)	(3,880)		(7,580)	7,802
Other income													5,820		6,890	5,595
Total revenues													1,072,685		749,906	902,743
Expenses:
Other operating expenses													252,283		257,402	167,660
Interest expense													90,464		74,618	51,832
Total expenses													665,529		923,252	1,175,171
Pretax Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent													407,156		(173,346)	(272,428)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes													(852,418)		(31,495)	(48,323)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	878,026	[1]	132,031	[1]	103,537	[1]	145,980	[1]	(16,047)	(28,011)	(77,579)	(20,214)	1,259,574	[1]	(141,851)	(224,105)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(449,691)	[2]	21,559	[2]	71,296	[2]	56,779	[2]	52,416	15,329	44,407	(167,286)	(300,057)	[2]	(55,134)	(227,363)
Net income (loss)	428,335		153,590		174,833		202,759		36,369	(12,682)	(33,172)	(187,500)	959,517		(196,985)	(451,468)
Parent Company
Revenues:
Net investment income													9,515		4,300	9,093
Net gains (losses) on investments													133		(930)	8,816
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments													(2,865)		(6,026)	9,180
Other income													7		0	3
Total revenues													6,790		(2,656)	27,092
Expenses:
Other operating expenses													0		0	2,690
Interest expense													57,366		37,087	17,756
Total expenses													57,366		37,087	20,446
Pretax Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent													(50,576)		(39,743)	6,646
Provision (benefit) for income taxes													143,912		9,234	(40,187)
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates													1,172,032		(148,008)	(498,301)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent													977,544		(196,985)	(451,468)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax													(18,027)		0	0
Net income (loss)													$ 959,517		$ (196,985)	$ (451,468)

[1] This amount reflects a reversal of substantially all of our tax valuation allowance in the fourth quarter.

[2] This amount reflects a $468 million loss on reclassification of Radian Asset Assurance as assets held for sale in the fourth quarter.