Note 8 - Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Effects of Reinsurance [Table Text Block]

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

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2016			2015			2014
Net premiums written—insurance:
Direct	$	1,000,111		$	1,009,409		$	982,976
Assumed	29			104			(882		)
Ceded (1)	(266,306		)	(41,008		)	(56,913		)
Net premiums written—insurance	$	733,834		$	968,505		$	925,181
Net premiums earned—insurance:
Direct	$	999,093		$	973,645		$	905,502
Assumed	35			43			43
Ceded (1)	(77,359		)	(57,780		)	(61,017		)
Net premiums earned—insurance	$	921,769		$	915,908		$	844,528

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(1) Net of profit commission.

Ceded Credit Risk [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						Single Premium QSR Transaction
	Year Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2016		2015		2014		2016		2015		2014
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	28,097	$	30,213	$	43,968	$	233,206	$	—	$	—
Ceded premiums earned (1)	42,515		46,975		47,139		29,808		—		—
Ceding commissions written	8,019		11,443		16,675		66,153		—		—
Ceding commissions earned (2)	16,573		14,453		13,275		15,303		—		—
Ceded losses	1,858		1,187		2,165		2,262		—		—

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(1) Net of profit commission.

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