Schedule II Financial Information of Registrant Parent Company Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 959,517,000		$ (196,985,000)	$ (451,468,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	300,057,000	[1]	55,134,000	227,363,000
Net (Gains) Losses On Investments, Other Financial Instruments, Change in Fair Value Of Derivatives And Net Impairment Losses Recognized In Earnings	79,989,000		(105,890,000)	121,892,000
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	(825,843,000)		(31,847,000)	7,817,000
Depreciation and other amortization, net	57,301,000		69,726,000	53,257,000
Cash Dividends Paid to Parent Company by Consolidated Subsidiaries			7,600,000
Change in other assets	26,744,000		(16,764,000)	50,080,000
Change in other liabilities	(55,592,000)		54,354,000	24,635,000
Net cash used in operating activities, continuing operations	(153,245,000)		(619,040,000)	(247,163,000)
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	17,071,000		(45,897,000)	(263,337,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(136,174,000)		(664,937,000)	(510,500,000)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of fixed-maturity investments available for sale	19,672,000		17,185,000	30,966,000
Purchases of trading securities	0		(259,897,000)	(3,877,633,000)
(Purchases) sales and redemptions of short-term investments, net	(364,855,000)		(363,446,000)	356,274,000
Sales of other assets, net	7,836,000		41,397,000	12,691,000
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(18,495,000)		(6,004,000)	(2,199,000)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(295,977,000)		0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(337,632,000)		60,299,000	661,073,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(1,865,000)		(1,632,000)	(1,335,000)
Proceeds/payments related to issuance or exchange of debt, net	293,809,000		377,783,000	0
Redemption of long-term debt	(57,223,000)		(79,372,000)	(153,261,000)
Issuance of common stock	247,188,000		299,410,000	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	482,016,000		596,941,000	(154,596,000)
Cash, beginning of period	22,880,000		29,408,000	33,020,000
Cash, end of period	30,465,000		22,880,000	29,408,000
Parent Company
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	959,517,000		(196,985,000)	(451,468,000)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	18,027,000		0	0
Net (Gains) Losses On Investments, Other Financial Instruments, Change in Fair Value Of Derivatives And Net Impairment Losses Recognized In Earnings	(53,000)		3,004,000	(1,821,000)
Losses (gains) on the repurchase of long-term debt	2,785,000		3,952,000	(16,175,000)
Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries and affiliates	(1,172,005,000)		150,090,000	505,267,000
(Decrease) increase in federal income taxes	(6,626,000)		6,583,000	(7,145,000)
Deferred income tax (benefit) provision	170,757,000		0	0
Depreciation and other amortization, net	34,213,000		30,286,000	18,603,000
Change in other assets	13,768,000		23,301,000	(17,708,000)
Change in other liabilities	(47,536,000)		85,450,000	25,336,000
Net cash used in operating activities, continuing operations	(27,153,000)		105,681,000	54,889,000
Net cash used in operating activities, discontinued operations	(18,027,000)		0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(45,180,000)		105,681,000	54,889,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales/redemptions of trading securities	0		9,000,000	153,992,000
Purchases of trading securities	0		0	(3,000)
(Purchases) sales and redemptions of short-term investments, net	1,372,000		(496,979,000)	41,042,000
Sales of other assets, net	0		21,473,000	8,709,000
Purchases of property and equipment, net	(1,351,000)		(647,000)	(1,124,000)
Capital contributions to subsidiaries and affiliates	(139,103,000)		(233,391,000)	(100,384,000)
Issuance of notes receivable from affiliates	(300,000,000)		0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(439,082,000)		(700,544,000)	102,232,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(1,865,000)		(1,632,000)	(1,335,000)
Proceeds/payments related to issuance or exchange of debt, net	293,809,000		377,783,000	0
Redemption of long-term debt	(57,223,000)		(79,372,000)	(153,261,000)
Issuance of common stock	247,188,000		299,410,000	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	481,909,000		596,189,000	(154,596,000)
(Decrease) increase in cash	(2,353,000)		1,326,000	2,525,000
Cash, beginning of period	4,304,000		2,978,000	453,000
Cash, end of period	$ 1,951,000		$ 4,304,000	$ 2,978,000

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