Note 7 - Reinsurance (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

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)	2015			2014			2015			2014
Net premiums written-insurance:
Direct	$	253,262		$	262,826		$	766,708		$	730,685
Assumed	7			(219		)	62			(668		)
Ceded	(11,101		)	(16,832		)	(31,612		)	(49,342		)
Net premiums written-insurance	$	242,168		$	245,775		$	735,158		$	680,675
Net premiums earned-insurance:
Direct	$	242,260		$	235,406		$	734,221		$	672,453
Assumed	10			11			33			35
Ceded	(14,837		)	(17,590		)	(44,789		)	(52,253		)
Net premiums earned-insurance	$	227,433		$	217,827		$	689,465		$	620,235

Reinsurance Transaction Details [Table Text Block]

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

	Initial QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Ceded premiums written	$	3,437	$	4,668	$	11,326	$	15,018
Ceded premiums earned	5,068		6,578		17,510		20,188
Ceding commissions written	745		1,166		2,453		3,754

	Second QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2015		2014		2015		2014
Ceded premiums written	$	5,029	$	9,082	$	11,953	$	24,447
Ceded premiums earned	7,135		7,699		18,942		21,481
Ceding commissions written	1,998		3,179		6,437		8,557