Note 8 - Other Assets Components of Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Company-owned life insurance		$ 103,877			$ 103,877			$ 83,377
Prepaid federal income taxes (Note 9)		89,200			89,200			0
Loaned securities (Note 5)		65,444			65,444			27,860
Internal-use software	[1]	55,190			55,190			51,367
Right-of-use assets	[3]	42,613	[2]		42,613	[2]		0
Property and equipment	[4]	34,339			34,339			37,090
Accrued investment income		33,187			33,187			34,878
Unbilled receivables		25,110			25,110			19,917
Deferred policy acquisition costs		19,928			19,928			17,311
Reinsurance recoverables		16,906			16,906			14,402
Current federal income tax receivable	[5]	0			0			44,506
Other		27,853			27,853			36,992
Total other assets		513,647			513,647			367,700
Internal-use software, Accumulated Amortization		70,400			70,400			60,300
Internal-use software, Impairments					3,800			5,100
Internal-use software, Amortization		3,300		$ 2,900	9,800		$ 8,600
Accumulated Amortization, Right-of-Use Assets		6,800			6,800
Property and Equipment, Owned, Accumulated Depreciation		68,500			68,500			62,900
Depreciation expense		$ 1,900		$ 2,100	$ 5,900		$ 5,900
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 $70.4 million and $60.3 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, as well as $3.8 million of impairment charges in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and $5.1 million of impairment charges in 2018. Amortization expense was $3.3 million and $2.9 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $9.8 million and $8.6 million for the nine-month periods ended September 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 $6.8 million at September 30, 2019.

[4] Property and equipment at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $68.5 million and $62.9 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Depreciation expense was $1.9 million and $2.1 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $5.9 million for both the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

[5] During the nine months ended September 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.