Note 9 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 976,399
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at March 31		891,348
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		976,399	$ 1,560,032
Less reinsurance recoverables	[1]	8,286	26,665
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		968,113	1,533,367
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	56,171	80,437
Prior years		(13,504)	(35,360)
Total incurred losses and LAE		42,667	45,077
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	65	0
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		127,606	207,095
Total paid losses and LAE		127,671	207,095
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		883,109	1,371,349
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	8,239	13,365
Balance at March 31		$ 891,348	$ 1,384,714
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		12.50%	15.00%	13.00%
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Less reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 8,286
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 8,239
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		46.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		43.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For Pre-Foreclosure Stage Defaults		65.00%
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate		81.00%
Bank of America Settlement Agreement [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Total paid losses and LAE		$ 98,500

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction, if any. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default.

[3] Represents ceded losses on captive transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction.