Note 8 - Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Effects of Reinsurance [Table Text Block]

The effect of reinsurance on net premiums written and earned is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015			2014			2013
Net premiums written-insurance:
Direct	$	1,009,409		$	982,976		$	1,033,323
Assumed	104			(882		)	(904		)
Ceded	(41,008		)	(56,913		)	(81,421		)
Net premiums written-insurance	$	968,505		$	925,181		$	950,998
Net premiums earned-insurance:
Direct	$	973,645		$	905,502		$	848,655
Assumed	43			43			56
Ceded	(57,780		)	(61,017		)	(67,291		)
Net premiums earned-insurance	$	915,908		$	844,528		$	781,420

Ceded Credit Risk [Table Text Block]

The following tables present information related to our captive transactions for the periods indicated:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015	2014
RIF ceded under captive reinsurance arrangements	71,359	129,795
Ceded losses recoverable related to captives	7,293	24,711

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015	2014	2013
Ceded premiums written related to captives	9,950	12,948	17,812
Ceded premiums earned related to captives	9,959	12,958	17,853
Ceded recoveries, excluding amounts received upon terminations of captive reinsurance transactions	20,950	21,213	47,151

The following table shows the amounts related to the QSR Transactions for the periods indicated:

	Initial QSR Transaction						Second QSR Transaction
	Year Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2015		2014		2013		2015		2014		2013
Ceded premiums written	$	14,471	$	10,217	$	23,047	$	15,742	$	33,751	$	40,225
Ceded premiums earned	22,157		17,319		29,746		24,818		29,820		18,356
Ceding commissions written	3,134		4,862		5,762		8,309		11,813		14,079