Note 2 - Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net investment income		$ 27,201,000	$ 17,328,000
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments		31,286,000	16,779,000
Other income		1,915,000	1,331,000
Total revenues		312,952,000	290,663,000
Other operating expenses		58,989,000	53,774,000
Total expenses		210,550,000	153,213,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	530,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction	100.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	$ 810,000,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		0
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total Operating Expenses Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company		0	0
Total Interest Expense Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company		$ 0	0
Net premiums earned			1,007,000
Net investment income			9,153,000
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments			13,668,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments			2,625,000
Total revenues			26,453,000
Provision for losses			502,000
Policy acquisition costs			(191,000)
Other operating expenses			4,107,000
Total expenses			4,418,000
Equity in net (loss) of affiliates			(13,000)
Income from operations of businesses held for sale			22,022,000
Loss on sale			(13,930,000)	$ (467,500,000)
Income tax provision			7,562,000
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax			$ 530,000