Note 9 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 12,025		$ 28,119
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)		1,098,570		1,560,032
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1]	11,071	$ 11,677	26,665	$ 21,201	$ 22,458	$ 38,363
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)		1,098,570	1,204,792	1,560,032	1,588,131	1,714,681	2,164,353
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Net		1,087,499	$ 1,193,115	1,533,367	$ 1,566,930	$ 1,692,223	$ 2,125,990
Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		519,572		700,174
Alt A Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		234,772		292,293
A Minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		137,441		179,103
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		107,179		223,114
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		41,464		56,164
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	11,071		26,665
Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)		1,051,499		1,477,513
Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		43,234		75,785
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		949		1,775
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		1,983		3,542
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)		46,166		81,102
Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)	[3]	905		1,417
First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expense (“LAE”) (Note 9)		$ 1,097,665		$ 1,558,615

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions and the QSR Transactions. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Primarily represents ceded losses on captive transactions and the QSR Transactions.

[3] Does not include our Second-lien PDR that is included in other liabilities.