Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 760,269
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at September 30		556,488			$ 760,269
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		760,269		$ 976,399	976,399
Less reinsurance recoverables	[1]	6,851		8,286	8,286
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		753,418		968,113	968,113
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	145,798		152,320
Prior years		(45,331)		(3,906)
Total incurred losses and LAE		100,467		148,414
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	3,639		2,725
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		301,228		298,352
Total paid losses and LAE		304,867	[3]	301,077
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		549,018		815,450	753,418
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	7,470		6,484	6,851
Balance at September 30		$ 556,488		$ 821,934	$ 760,269
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		10.50%		12.00%	12.00%
Risk In Force		$ 51,200,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage		1.60%
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 33,493
Less reinsurance recoverables	[4]	35
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Prior years		14,200
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	[4]	25			$ 35
Balance at September 30		33,781			33,493
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Less reinsurance recoverables	[4]	6,816
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	[4]	$ 7,445			$ 6,816
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		40.00%			42.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		38.00%			40.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For Pre-Foreclosure Stage Defaults		62.00%
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate		81.00%
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage		8.80%
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Risk In Force		$ 4,400,000
Participating Policies, Amount in Force		16,800,000
2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member]
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at September 30		2,800
Radian Guaranty Inc [Member] | 2013 Freddie Mac Agreement [Member]
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		$ 54,800

[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] Includes the payment of $54.8 million made in connection with the scheduled final settlement of the Freddie Mac Agreement in the third quarter of 2017.

[4] Represents ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction.