Note 11 - Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) percentagepoint	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 976,399
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at December 31		760,269	$ 976,399
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		976,399	1,560,032	$ 2,164,353
Reinsurance Recoverable for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustments	[1]	6,851	8,286	26,665	$ 38,363
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		968,113	1,533,367	2,125,990
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	206,383	229,061	351,184
Prior years		(3,516)	(29,647)	(105,545)
Total incurred losses and LAE		202,867	199,414	245,639
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	11,410	10,837	13,562
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		406,152	753,831	824,700
Total paid losses and LAE		417,562	764,668	838,262
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		753,418	968,113	1,533,367
Balance at December 31		$ 760,269	976,399	$ 1,560,032
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Increase (Decrease) in Incurred Claim Expense			$ 46,200
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Percentage Point Change In Severity Used In Assumption Shift Analysis | percentagepoint		1
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		12.00%	13.00%	16.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For Pre-Foreclosure Stage Defaults		62.00%	65.00%
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		42.00%	46.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		40.00%	42.00%
Default To Claim Estimate, Gross, For Foreclosure Stage Defaults		81.00%	81.00%

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction. See Note 8 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.