Note 5 - Investments Gain (Loss) on Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Other gains		$ 0	$ 1		$ 18	$ 106
Net realized losses on investments		1,587	60,429	[1]	(3,992)	55,915	[1]
Unrealized gains on trading securities		27,678	(31,638)		62,909	(10,937)
Total net gains on investments		29,265	28,791		58,917	44,978
Net gains on other financial instruments		1,262	(343)		2,896	249
Net gains on investments and other financial instruments		30,527	28,448		61,813	45,227
Fixed Maturities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized (Loss) Gain, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments		1,166	(8)		(1,982)	(59)
Equity securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Realized (Loss) Gain, Excluding Other than Temporary Impairments		0	68,723		(170)	68,723
Trading Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Trading securities		421	(8,291)		(1,819)	(12,859)
Short-term Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Short-term investments		0	$ 4		(39)	$ 4
Other Comprehensive Income
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, before Tax	[2]	$ 1,166			$ (2,152)

[1] During the second quarter of 2015, we sold equity securities in our portfolio and reinvested the proceeds in assets that qualify as PMIERs-compliant Available Assets, recognizing pretax gains of $68.7 million.

[2] Included in net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments on our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the second quarter of 2015, we sold equity securities in our portfolio and reinvested the proceeds in assets that qualify as PMIERs-compliant Available Assets, recognizing pretax gains of $68.7 million.