Note 10 - Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1	$ 2,164,353,000
Less reinsurance recoverables	46,846,000
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	28,119,000		46,846,000
Balance at December 31	1,560,032,000		2,164,353,000
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Recoverable	(18,156,000)		(42,358,000)		(66,385,000)
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1	2,164,353,000		3,083,608,000		3,247,900,000
Less reinsurance recoverables	38,363,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]	151,569,000	[1]
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables	2,125,990,000		3,000,370,000		3,096,331,000
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	422,999,000	[2]	584,174,000	[2]	899,511,000	[2]
Prior years	(177,360,000)		(19,526,000)		21,996,000
Total incurred losses and LAE	245,639,000		564,648,000		921,507,000
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	9,006,000	[2]	31,399,000	[2]	12,503,000	[2]
Paid losses and LAE Prior years	829,256,000		1,407,629,000		1,004,965,000
Total paid losses and LAE	838,262,000		1,439,028,000		1,017,468,000
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables	1,533,367,000		2,125,990,000		3,000,370,000
Add reinsurance recoverables	26,665,000	[1]	38,363,000	[1]	83,238,000	[1]
Balance at December 31	1,560,032,000		2,164,353,000		3,083,608,000
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Percentage Point Change In Severity Used In Assumption Shift Analysis	1
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Smart Home [Member]
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Increase (Decrease) in Reinsurance Recoverable					(46,800,000)
2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Total paid losses and LAE			255,000,000
Provision for Loan Losses Expensed			$ 22,000,000
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements	52.00%		50.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions	47.00%
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | New Defaults [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate	16.00%
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Pre Foreclosure Defaults [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate	65.00%
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Foreclosure Defaults [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate	81.00%

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive transactions, Smart Home (for 2012) and QSR Reinsurance Transactions. See Note 8 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.