Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 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 September 30		821,934		$ 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]	152,320	184,490
Prior years		(3,906)	(42,158)
Total incurred losses and LAE		148,414	142,332
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	2,725	3,417
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		298,352	584,783
Total paid losses and LAE		301,077	588,200
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		815,450	1,087,499	968,113
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	6,484	11,071	8,286
Balance at September 30		$ 821,934	$ 1,098,570	$ 976,399
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		12.00%	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]	$ 6,448		$ 8,286
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		45.00%		46.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		41.00%		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			$ 236,600

[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.