Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 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		848,379		$ 976,399
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		976,399	$ 1,560,032	1,560,032
Less reinsurance recoverables	[1]	8,286	26,665	26,665
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		968,113	1,533,367	1,533,367
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	100,999	134,054
Prior years		(8,438)	(55,195)
Total incurred losses and LAE		92,561	78,859
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	632	576
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		217,740	418,535
Total paid losses and LAE		218,372	419,111
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		842,302	1,193,115	968,113
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	6,077	11,677	8,286
Balance at March 31		$ 848,379	$ 1,204,792	$ 976,399
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		12.50%	14.00%	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]	$ 6,044		$ 8,286
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		46.00%		46.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		43.00%		42.00%
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			$ 174,600

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction. 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.