Note 2 - Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 01, 2015
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Net investment income	$ 17,328,000		$ 15,318,000
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments	16,779,000		42,968,000
Revenues	290,663,000		258,174,000
Policy acquisition costs	7,750,000		7,017,000
Other operating expenses	54,576,000		54,507,000
Costs and Expenses	153,213,000		131,077,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	530,000		56,779,000
Fixed-maturities available for sale—at fair value (amortized cost $677,040 and $528,660)	695,085,000				536,890,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	143,533,000				143,368,000
Trading securities—at fair value	1,574,795,000				1,633,584,000
Short-term investments—at fair value	1,194,280,000				1,300,872,000
Other invested assets	13,953,000				14,585,000
Other assets	356,713,000				375,491,000
Total assets held for sale	1,755,873,000	[1]	1,795,185,000	[1]	1,736,444,000
Unearned premiums	657,555,000		580,453,000		644,504,000
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”)	1,384,714,000		1,893,960,000		1,560,032,000
Other liabilities	310,642,000				326,743,000
Total liabilities held for sale	966,078,000				947,008,000
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	592,000		(318,000)
Other income	1,432,000		1,126,000
Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Provision for Loss (Gain) on Disposal, before Income Tax	(13,930,000)		0
Premiums Earned, Net, Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts	1,007,000		6,903,000
Net investment income	9,153,000		8,911,000
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments	13,668,000		22,182,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	2,625,000		50,086,000
Revenues	26,453,000		88,082,000
Provision for losses	502,000		5,649,000
Policy acquisition costs	(191,000)		1,597,000
Other operating expenses	4,107,000		5,402,000
Costs and Expenses	4,418,000		12,648,000
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	(13,000)		(13,000)
Income from operations of businesses held for sale	22,022,000		75,421,000
Income tax provision on classification as held for sale	7,562,000		18,642,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	530,000		56,779,000
Fixed-maturities available for sale—at fair value (amortized cost $677,040 and $528,660)	226,334,000				224,552,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Equity Securities	4,019,000				3,749,000
Trading securities—at fair value	679,972,000				689,887,000
Short-term investments—at fair value	449,391,000				435,413,000
Other invested assets	108,080,000				108,206,000
Other assets	288,077,000				274,637,000
Total assets held for sale	1,755,873,000				1,736,444,000
Unearned premiums	152,445,000				158,921,000
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”)	32,420,000				31,558,000
VIE debt	82,238,000				85,016,000
Derivative liabilities	187,462,000				183,370,000
Other liabilities	511,513,000				488,143,000
Total liabilities held for sale	966,078,000				947,008,000
Sale of Radian Asset Assurance [Member] | Parent Company
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Discontinued Operation, Provision for Loss (Gain) on Disposal, before Income Tax	13,900,000				468,000,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	500,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Sale of Radian Asset Assurance [Member] | Parent Company
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction						100.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration						810,000,000
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals, Acquisition Costs or Sale Proceeds						$ 789,000,000

[1] Assets held for sale are not part of the Mortgage Insurance or Services segments.