Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Reserves by Product (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		$ 488,656	$ 507,588
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables	[1]	8,973	8,350	$ 7,708	$ 6,851
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		485,192	507,588	$ 726,169	$ 760,269
Prime Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		274,595	285,022
Alt-A and A minus and Below Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		158,612	170,873
Primary Mortgage Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		17,164	16,021
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		13,440	13,349
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	8,953	8,315
Total Primary Insurance Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		472,764	493,580
Pool Insurance Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		11,387	12,794
Liability for Incurred but Not Reported Claims		226	278
Liability for Claims Adjustment Expense		319	356
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	20	35
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		11,952	13,463
First Lien Mortgage Insurance Products [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		484,716	507,043
Second Lien Mortgage Insurance Product [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	[3]	$ 476	$ 545

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transactions. See Note 7 for additional information.

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

[3] Does not include our Second-lien premium deficiency reserve that is included in other liabilities.