Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	(3) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (A) Critical Accounting Policies The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements. The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of our financial statements include estimates associated with management's evaluation of the determination of (i) liability for unpaid losses and LAE, (ii) the amount and recoverability of amortization of DPAC, and (iii) estimates for our reserves with respect to finance contracts, premiums receivable and deferred income taxes. Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of these significant estimates, which are described in greater detail in Footnote 2 of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which we included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012. We believe that there were no significant changes in those critical accounting policies and estimates during the first three months of fiscal 2012. Senior management has reviewed the development and selection of our critical accounting policies and estimates and their disclosure in this Form 10-Q with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The process of determining significant estimates is fact-specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, and in the case of unpaid losses and LAE, an actuarial valuation. Management regularly reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. In selecting the best estimate, we utilize various actuarial methodologies. Each of these methodologies is designed to forecast the number of claims we will be called upon to pay and the amounts we will pay on average to settle those claims. In arriving at our best estimate, our actuaries consider the likely predictive value of the various loss development methodologies employed in light of underwriting practices, premium rate changes and claim settlement practices that may have occurred, and weight the credibility of each methodology. Our actuarial methodologies take into account various factors, including, but not limited to, paid losses, liability estimates for reported losses, paid allocated LAE, salvage and other recoveries received, reported claim counts, open claim counts and counts for claims closed with and without payment for loss. Accounting for loss contingencies pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance involves the existence of a condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future event(s) occur or fail to occur. Additionally, accounting for a loss contingency requires management to assess each event as probable, reasonably possible or remote. Probable is defined as the future event or events are likely to occur. Reasonably possible is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than probable, while remote is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight. An estimated loss in connection with a loss contingency shall be recorded by a charge to current operations if both of the following conditions are met: First, the amount can be reasonably estimated, and second, the information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it is probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of the loss or incurrence of a liability. We are required to review the contractual terms of all our reinsurance purchases to ensure compliance with FASB issued guidance. The guidance establishes the conditions required for a contract with a reinsurer to be accounted for as reinsurance and prescribes accounting and reporting standards for those contracts. Contracts that do not result in the reasonable possibility that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the insurance risk assumed generally do not meet the conditions for reinsurance accounting and must be accounted for as deposits. The guidance also requires us to disclose the nature, purpose and effect of reinsurance transactions, including the premium amounts associated with reinsurance assumed and ceded. It also requires disclosure of concentrations of credit risk associated with reinsurance receivables and prepaid reinsurance premiums. FASB issued guidance addresses accounting and reporting for (a) investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and (b) all investments in debt securities. The guidance requires that these securities be classified into one of three categories: Held-to-maturity, Trading, or Available-for-sale securities. Investments classified as held-to-maturity include debt securities wherein the Company's intent and ability are to hold the investment until maturity. The accounting treatment for held-to-maturity investments is to carry them at amortized cost without consideration to unrealized gains or losses. Investments classified as trading securities include debt and equity securities bought and held primarily for the sale in the near term. The accounting treatment for trading securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in current period operations. Investments classified as available-for-sale include debt and equity securities that are not classified as held-to-maturity or as trading security investments. The accounting treatment for available-for-sale securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity, namely "Other Comprehensive Income". A decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale security below cost that is deemed other-than temporary results in a charge to income, resulting in the establishment of a new cost basis for the security. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted, respectively, over the life of the related debt security as an adjustment to yield using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific-identification method for determining the cost of securities sold. Financial instruments, which potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of investments, premiums receivable, amounts due from reinsurers on paid and unpaid losses and finance contracts. We have not experienced significant losses related to premiums receivable from individual policyholders or groups of policyholders in a particular industry or geographic area. We believe no credit risk beyond the amounts provided for collection losses is inherent in our premiums receivable or finance contracts. In order to reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, we seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly review the financial strength of all reinsurers used. Additionally, our credit risk in connection with our reinsurers is mitigated by the establishment of irrevocable clean letters of credit in favor of Federated National. The fair value of our investments is estimated based on prices published by financial services or quotations received from securities dealers and is reflective of the interest rate environment that existed as of the close of business on March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Changes in interest rates subsequent to March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 may affect the fair value of our investments. The carrying amounts for the following financial instrument categories approximate their fair values at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 because of their short-term nature: cash and short term investments, premiums receivable, finance contracts, due from reinsurers, revolving credit outstanding, bank overdraft, accounts payable and accrued expenses. (B) Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05: Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The guidance in this ASU is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income in the financial statements by presenting the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This ASU eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The guidance in this ASU does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. Upon adoption, this update is to be applied retrospectively and is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2011-12: Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. The guidance defers certain provisions contained in ASU No. 2011-05 requiring the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial statements. However, this deferral does not impact the other requirements contained in the new standard on comprehensive income as described above. This ASU is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which amends ASC Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The guidance in this ASU permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity's financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued or, for nonpublic entities, have not yet been made available for issuance. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11: Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which requires new disclosure requirements mandating that entities disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of collateral received and posted in connection with master netting agreements or similar arrangements. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-26: Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, a consensus of FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The amendments in this update modify the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts. The amendments in this update specify that the costs must be based on successful efforts (that is, acquiring a new or renewal contract). The amendments also specify that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs under certain circumstances. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim period within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively upon adoption. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption also is permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by FASB, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA"), and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future financial statements. (C) Stock Options Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB issued guidance using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2012 includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the guidance. (D) Earnings (Loss) per Share Basic earnings (loss) per share ("Basic EPS") is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings (loss) per share ("Diluted EPS") is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period presented; outstanding warrants and stock options are considered common stock equivalents and are included in the calculation using the treasury stock method. (E) Reclassifications No reclassification of the 2011 financial statements was necessary to conform to the 2012 presentation.

(3) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

(A) Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements.

The most significant accounting estimates inherent in the preparation of our financial statements include estimates associated with management's evaluation of the determination of (i) liability for unpaid losses and LAE, (ii) the amount and recoverability of amortization of DPAC, and (iii) estimates for our reserves with respect to finance contracts, premiums receivable and deferred income taxes. Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of these significant estimates, which are described in greater detail in Footnote 2 of the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which we included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2012.

We believe that there were no significant changes in those critical accounting policies and estimates during the first three months of fiscal 2012. Senior management has reviewed the development and selection of our critical accounting policies and estimates and their disclosure in this Form 10-Q with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.

The process of determining significant estimates is fact-specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, and in the case of unpaid losses and LAE, an actuarial valuation. Management regularly reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate. In selecting the best estimate, we utilize various actuarial methodologies. Each of these methodologies is designed to forecast the number of claims we will be called upon to pay and the amounts we will pay on average to settle those claims. In arriving at our best estimate, our actuaries consider the likely predictive value of the various loss development methodologies employed in light of underwriting practices, premium rate changes and claim settlement practices that may have occurred, and weight the credibility of each methodology. Our actuarial methodologies take into account various factors, including, but not limited to, paid losses, liability estimates for reported losses, paid allocated LAE, salvage and other recoveries received, reported claim counts, open claim counts and counts for claims closed with and without payment for loss.

Accounting for loss contingencies pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance involves the existence of a condition, situation or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible loss that will ultimately be resolved when one or more future event(s) occur or fail to occur. Additionally, accounting for a loss contingency requires management to assess each event as probable, reasonably possible or remote. Probable is defined as the future event or events are likely to occur. Reasonably possible is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is more than remote but less than probable, while remote is defined as the chance of the future event or events occurring is slight. An estimated loss in connection with a loss contingency shall be recorded by a charge to current operations if both of the following conditions are met: First, the amount can be reasonably estimated, and second, the information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it is probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of the loss or incurrence of a liability.

We are required to review the contractual terms of all our reinsurance purchases to ensure compliance with FASB issued guidance. The guidance establishes the conditions required for a contract with a reinsurer to be accounted for as reinsurance and prescribes accounting and reporting standards for those contracts. Contracts that do not result in the reasonable possibility that the reinsurer may realize a significant loss from the insurance risk assumed generally do not meet the conditions for reinsurance accounting and must be accounted for as deposits. The guidance also requires us to disclose the nature, purpose and effect of reinsurance transactions, including the premium amounts associated with reinsurance assumed and ceded. It also requires disclosure of concentrations of credit risk associated with reinsurance receivables and prepaid reinsurance premiums.

FASB issued guidance addresses accounting and reporting for (a) investments in equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and (b) all investments in debt securities. The guidance requires that these securities be classified into one of three categories: Held-to-maturity, Trading, or Available-for-sale securities.

Investments classified as held-to-maturity include debt securities wherein the Company's intent and ability are to hold the investment until maturity. The accounting treatment for held-to-maturity investments is to carry them at amortized cost without consideration to unrealized gains or losses. Investments classified as trading securities include debt and equity securities bought and held primarily for the sale in the near term. The accounting treatment for trading securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in current period operations. Investments classified as available-for-sale include debt and equity securities that are not classified as held-to-maturity or as trading security investments. The accounting treatment for available-for-sale securities is to carry them at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of shareholders' equity, namely "Other Comprehensive Income".

A decline in the fair value of an available-for-sale security below cost that is deemed other-than temporary results in a charge to income, resulting in the establishment of a new cost basis for the security. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted, respectively, over the life of the related debt security as an adjustment to yield using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Dividends and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses are included in earnings and are derived using the specific-identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

Financial instruments, which potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk, consist primarily of investments, premiums receivable, amounts due from reinsurers on paid and unpaid losses and finance contracts. We have not experienced significant losses related to premiums receivable from individual policyholders or groups of policyholders in a particular industry or geographic area. We believe no credit risk beyond the amounts provided for collection losses is inherent in our premiums receivable or finance contracts. In order to reduce credit risk for amounts due from reinsurers, we seek to do business with financially sound reinsurance companies and regularly review the financial strength of all reinsurers used. Additionally, our credit risk in connection with our reinsurers is mitigated by the establishment of irrevocable clean letters of credit in favor of Federated National.

The fair value of our investments is estimated based on prices published by financial services or quotations received from securities dealers and is reflective of the interest rate environment that existed as of the close of business on March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Changes in interest rates subsequent to March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 may affect the fair value of our investments.

The carrying amounts for the following financial instrument categories approximate their fair values at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 because of their short-term nature: cash and short term investments, premiums receivable, finance contracts, due from reinsurers, revolving credit outstanding, bank overdraft, accounts payable and accrued expenses.

(B) Impact of New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05: Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The guidance in this ASU is intended to increase the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income in the financial statements by presenting the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This ASU eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The guidance in this ASU does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. Upon adoption, this update is to be applied retrospectively and is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update ("ASU") No. 2011-12: Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. The guidance defers certain provisions contained in ASU No. 2011-05 requiring the requirement to present components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial statements. However, this deferral does not impact the other requirements contained in the new standard on comprehensive income as described above. This ASU is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08: Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which amends ASC Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other. The guidance in this ASU permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test described in ASC Topic 350. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, including for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity's financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued or, for nonpublic entities, have not yet been made available for issuance. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11: Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities, which requires new disclosure requirements mandating that entities disclose both gross and net information about instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position as well as instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of collateral received and posted in connection with master netting agreements or similar arrangements. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those annual periods. The adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-26: Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts, a consensus of FASB Emerging Issues Task Force. The amendments in this update modify the definition of the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that can be capitalized in the acquisition of new and renewal contracts. The amendments in this update specify that the costs must be based on successful efforts (that is, acquiring a new or renewal contract). The amendments also specify that advertising costs should be included as deferred acquisition costs under certain circumstances. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim period within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively upon adoption. Retrospective application to all prior periods presented upon the date of adoption also is permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by FASB, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA"), and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company's present or future financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FASB issued guidance using the modified-prospective-transition method. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2012 includes compensation cost for all share-based payments granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the guidance.

(D) Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share ("Basic EPS") is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period presented. Diluted earnings (loss) per share ("Diluted EPS") is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period presented; outstanding warrants and stock options are considered common stock equivalents and are included in the calculation using the treasury stock method.

(E) Reclassifications

No reclassification of the 2011 financial statements was necessary to conform to the 2012 presentation.