Note 8 - Other Assets Components of Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Company-owned life insurance		$ 101,988			$ 101,988			$ 83,377
Prepaid federal income taxes (Note 9)		55,000			55,000			0
Internal-use software	[1]	53,631			53,631			51,367
Right-of-use assets	[3]	44,844	[2]		44,844	[2]		0
Property and equipment	[4]	35,742			35,742			37,090
Accrued investment income		32,119			32,119			34,878
Loaned securities (Note 5)		29,064			29,064			27,860
Unbilled receivables		21,725			21,725			19,917
Deferred policy acquisition costs		18,546			18,546			17,311
Reinsurance recoverables		16,841			16,841			14,402
Current federal income tax receivable	[5]	0			0			44,506
Other		20,736			20,736			36,992
Total other assets		430,236			430,236			367,700
Internal-use software, Accumulated Amortization		66,600			66,600			60,300
Internal-use software, Impairments					3,800			5,100
Internal-use software, Amortization		3,400		$ 2,900	6,500		$ 5,700
Accumulated Amortization, Right-of-Use Assets		4,600			4,600
Property and Equipment, Owned, Accumulated Depreciation		66,200			66,200			62,900
Depreciation expense		$ 1,900		$ 1,900	$ 4,000		$ 3,800
REMIC Residual | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Refund of Qualified Deposit Assets from U.S. Department of Treasury								$ 57,200

[1] Internal-use software, at cost, has been reduced by accumulated amortization of $66.6 million and $60.3 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, as well as $3.8 million of impairment charges in the six months ended June 30, 2019, and $5.1 million of impairment charges in 2018. Amortization expense was $3.4 million and $2.9 million for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $6.5 million and $5.7 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[2] Classified in other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 8.

[3] Represents right-of-use assets recognized as a result of our adoption, as of January 1, 2019, of the new accounting and disclosure requirements for leases of property, plant and equipment. See Note 1 for additional information. Right-of-use assets are shown less accumulated amortization of $4.6 million at June 30, 2019.

[4] Property and equipment at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $66.2 million and $62.9 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Depreciation expense was $1.9 million for both the three-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and $4.0 million and $3.8 million for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

[5] During the six months ended June 30, 2019, current federal income tax receivable was reduced by our receipt of the remaining $57.2 million refund from amounts on deposit with the IRS related to the settlement of the IRS Matter.