Note 11 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Reserve for Losses and LAE by Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		$ 14,402		$ 8,492
Reserve for losses and LAE		401,361		507,588
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and LAE		397,891	[1]	507,588	$ 760,269	$ 976,399
Prime | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		231,169		285,022
Alt-A and A minus and below | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims		119,527		170,873
Primary Mortgage Product | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
IBNR and other		13,864		16,021
LAE		10,271		13,349
Reinsurance recoverables	[2]	10,992		8,315
Total primary reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and LAE		385,823		493,580
Total pool reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reinsurance recoverables		17		35
Reserve for losses and LAE	[3]	11,640		13,463
Total First-lien reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and LAE		397,463		507,043
Other (Second-lien reserves) | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Reserve for losses and LAE	[4]	$ 428		$ 545

[1] Excludes Services reserve for losses and LAE of $3.5 million.

[2] Represents ceded losses on reinsurance transactions, including the QSR Program and the Single Premium QSR Program. These amounts are included in the reinsurance recoverables reported in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets.

[3] Includes reinsurance recoverable of $17 thousand and $35 thousand as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.

[4] Does not include our second-lien PDR that is included in other liabilities.