Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Assets Liabilities by Hierarchy Level (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total liabilities		$ 3,145,169,000		$ 4,670,586,000
Reported Value Measurement [Member]
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Cost Method Investments		1,700,000		14,600,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		4,297,000,000	[1]	3,614,700,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value		4,297,000,000		3,614,700,000
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount		0
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers, Net		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Transfers, Net		0
US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		678,300,000		839,900,000
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount				137,300,000
State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		341,900,000		362,800,000
Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		443,300,000		600,300,000
Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		1,383,200,000		992,800,000
RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		297,100,000		132,300,000
CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		544,600,000		246,800,000
Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		371,600,000		185,500,000
Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		37,600,000		37,700,000
Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		100,400,000		215,600,000	[3]
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount				21,000,000
Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		99,000,000	[4]	1,000,000	[5]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		1,188,500,000	[1]	1,601,200,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value		1,188,500,000		1,601,200,000
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure				495,100,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		670,300,000		836,900,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		443,300,000		600,300,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		74,900,000		164,000,000	[3]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0	[4]	0	[5]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		3,108,000,000	[1]	2,013,500,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value		3,108,000,000		2,013,500,000
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure				839,200,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		8,000,000		3,000,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		341,900,000		362,800,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		1,383,200,000		992,800,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		297,100,000		132,300,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		544,600,000		246,800,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		371,600,000		185,500,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		37,600,000		37,700,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		25,000,000		51,600,000	[3]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		99,000,000	[4]	1,000,000	[5]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	[1]	500,000
Total Assets at Fair Value		500,000
Total liabilities		0
Assets Held-for-sale, Long Lived, Fair Value Disclosure				102,600,000
VIE debt - at fair value				$ 3,800,000
Total Level III Liabilities as a Percentage of Total Liabilities Measured at Fair Value				100.00%
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value		500,000
Total Assets at Fair Value		500,000		$ 0
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	[4]	$ 0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Maximum [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Level III Assets as a Percentage of Total Assets Measured at Fair Value		0.10%

[1] Does not include certain other invested assets ($1.7 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value.

[2] Does not include certain other invested assets ($14.6 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value. Also excludes investments classified as assets held for sale of $495.1 million, $839.2 million and $102.6 million, with fair values categorized in Level I, Level II and Level III, respectively.

[3] Comprising broadly diversified domestic equity mutual funds and certain common stocks included within Level I and various preferred stocks invested across numerous companies and industries included within Level II.

[4] Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper.

[5] Comprising short-term certificates of deposit.