Note 7 - Reinsurance (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

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)	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net premiums written—insurance:
Direct	$	265,927		$	261,456		$	766,219		$	748,110
Ceded (1)	(18,117		)	(20,457		)	(52,437		)	(248,448		)
Net premiums written—insurance	$	247,810		$	240,999		$	713,782		$	499,662
Net premiums earned—insurance:
Direct	$	250,541		$	258,074		$	729,832		$	747,342
Assumed	7			9			21			27
Ceded (1)	(13,846		)	(19,934		)	(42,255		)	(59,185		)
Net premiums earned—insurance	$	236,702		$	238,149		$	687,598		$	688,184

______________________

(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)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	4,621	$	6,730	$	15,137	$	22,048
Ceded premiums earned (1)	6,826		10,597		22,064		33,094
Ceding commissions written	1,323		1,922		4,328		6,291
Ceding commissions earned (2)	2,925		3,974		10,198		12,199
Ceded losses, net	257		495		517		1,259

	Single Premium QSR Transaction
	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	13,248	$	13,004	$	36,064	$	222,085	(3)
Ceded premiums earned (1)	6,771		8,608		18,941		21,748
Ceding commissions written	5,156		5,482		14,002		61,258
Ceding commissions earned (2)	3,536		4,382		9,721		11,173
Ceded losses	406		719		1,443		1,635

______________________

(1) Net of profit commission.

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

(3) Includes ceded premiums for policies written in prior periods. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Form 10-K.