Note 4 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Assets Liabilities by Hierarchy Level (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Carrying (Reported) Amount, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Cost Method Investments	$ 1,293,000			$ 1,293,000			$ 1,714,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	4,564,455,000	[1]		4,564,455,000	[1]		4,296,972,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value	4,564,455,000			4,564,455,000			4,296,972,000
Fair Value, Assets, Level 2 to Level 1 Transfers, Amount	0		$ 0	0		$ 0
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount	0		0	0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers, Net	0		0	0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Transfers, Net	0		$ 0	0		$ 0
US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	152,805,000			152,805,000			678,328,000
State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	384,609,000			384,609,000			341,845,000
Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	587,628,000			587,628,000			443,272,000
Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	1,909,060,000			1,909,060,000			1,383,186,000
RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	433,474,000			433,474,000			297,097,000
CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	556,250,000			556,250,000			544,588,000
Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	450,853,000			450,853,000			371,625,000
Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	41,627,000			41,627,000			37,576,000
Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	1,330,000			1,330,000			100,446,000
Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	46,819,000	[3]		46,819,000	[3]		99,009,000	[4]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	740,433,000	[1]		740,433,000	[1]		1,188,530,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value	740,433,000			740,433,000			1,188,530,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	152,805,000			152,805,000			670,328,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	587,628,000			587,628,000			443,272,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			74,930,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0	[3]		0	[3]		0	[4]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	3,823,022,000	[1]		3,823,022,000	[1]		3,107,942,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value	3,823,022,000			3,823,022,000			3,107,942,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			8,000,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	384,609,000			384,609,000			341,845,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	1,909,060,000			1,909,060,000			1,383,186,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	433,474,000			433,474,000			297,097,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	556,250,000			556,250,000			544,588,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	450,853,000			450,853,000			371,625,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	41,627,000			41,627,000			37,576,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	830,000			830,000			25,016,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	46,319,000	[3]		46,319,000	[3]		99,009,000	[4]
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	1,000,000	[1]		1,000,000	[1]		500,000	[2]
Total Assets at Fair Value	$ 1,000,000			$ 1,000,000			500,000
Total Level III Assets as a Percentage of Total Assets Measured at Fair Value (less than 0.1%)	0.10%			0.10%
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value	$ 0			$ 0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | US government and agency securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | State and municipal obligations | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Money market instruments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Corporate bonds and notes | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | RMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | CMBS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Other ABS | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Foreign government securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	0			0			0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Equity securities | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	500,000			500,000			500,000
Gain (Loss) on Investments	0						0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Other investments | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Investments at Fair Value	500,000	[3]		$ 500,000	[3]		$ 0	[4]
Gain (Loss) on Investments	$ 0
Maximum [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value by Hierarchy Level [Line Items]
Total Level III Assets as a Percentage of Total Assets Measured at Fair Value (less than 0.1%)							0.10%

[1] Does not include certain other invested assets ($1.3 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value.

[2] Does not include certain other invested assets ($1.7 million), primarily invested in limited partnerships, accounted for as cost-method investments and not measured at fair value.

[3] Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper, included within Level II, and private convertible notes, included within Level III.

[4] Comprising short-term certificates of deposit and commercial paper.