Note 7 - Reinsurance (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Reinsurance, Premiums Written And Earned [Table Text Block]

The effect of reinsurance on net premiums written and earned is as follows:

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net premiums written-insurance:
Direct	$	261,456		$	253,262		$	748,110		$	766,708
Assumed	—			7			—			62
Ceded (1)	(20,457		)	(11,101		)	(248,448		)	(31,612		)
Net premiums written-insurance	$	240,999		$	242,168		$	499,662		$	735,158
Net premiums earned-insurance:
Direct	$	258,074		$	242,260		$	747,342		$	734,221
Assumed	9			10			27			33
Ceded (1)	(19,934		)	(14,837		)	(59,185		)	(44,789		)
Net premiums earned-insurance	$	238,149		$	227,433		$	688,184		$	689,465

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(1) Net of profit commission.

Reinsurance Transaction Details [Table Text Block]

The following tables show the amounts related to the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction for the periods indicated:

	QSR Transactions
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2016		2015
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	6,730	$	8,466	$	22,048	$	23,279
Ceded premiums earned (1)	10,597		12,203		33,094		36,452
Ceding commissions written	1,922		2,743		6,291		8,890
Ceding commissions earned (2)	3,974		2,463		12,199		10,987

	Single Premium QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2016		2016
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	13,004	$	222,085
Ceded premiums earned (1)	8,608		21,748
Ceding commissions written	5,482		61,258
Ceding commissions earned (2)	4,382		11,173

______________________

(1) Net of profit commission.

(2) Includes amounts reported in policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses.