Note 10 - Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 11,044		$ 28,119
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)		976,399		1,560,032
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1]	8,286		26,665	$ 38,363	$ 83,238
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)		976,399		1,560,032	$ 2,164,353	$ 3,083,608
Mortgage Insurance Segment | First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)		975,536		1,558,615
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)		930,999		1,477,513
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		480,481		700,174
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Alt A Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		203,706		292,293
Mortgage Insurance Segment | A Minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		129,352		179,103
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		83,066	[2]	223,114
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		26,108		56,164
Reinsurance recoverables	[3]	8,286		26,665
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		42,084		75,785
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		1,118		1,775
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		1,335		3,542
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)		44,537		81,102
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (“LAE”) (Note 10)	[4]	$ 863		$ 1,417

[1] Related to ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions and the QSR Transactions. See Note 8 for additional information.

[2] Primarily related to expected payments under the Freddie Mac Agreement.

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

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