Note 7 - Reinsurance (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

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 March 31,
(In thousands)	2018			2017
Net premiums written—insurance:
Direct	$	257,911		$	239,645
Ceded (1)	(19,931		)	(14,980		)
Net premiums written—insurance	$	237,980		$	224,665
Net premiums earned—insurance:
Direct	$	258,743		$	236,062
Assumed	6			7
Ceded (1)	(16,199		)	(14,269		)
Net premiums earned—insurance	$	242,550		$	221,800

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(1) Net of profit commission.

Reinsurance Transaction Details [Table Text Block]

The following tables show the amounts related to the Single Premium QSR Transactions and the QSR Transactions for the periods indicated:

	Single Premium QSR Transactions
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	15,791	$	8,960
Ceded premiums earned (1)	10,377		5,859
Ceding commissions written	6,621		3,712
Ceding commissions earned (2)	5,268		2,937
Ceded losses	900		573

	QSR Transactions
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In thousands)	2018		2017
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	3,931	$	5,457
Ceded premiums earned (1)	5,612		7,834
Ceding commissions written	1,128		1,559
Ceding commissions earned (2)	3,548		3,894
Ceded losses	246		570

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(1) Net of profit commission.

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