Note 2 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written-insurance	$ 209,277	$ 178,287	$ 468,887	$ 513,814
Net premiums earned-insurance	190,963	179,655	545,107	571,612
Net investment income	25,635	38,763	91,225	124,826
Net gains (losses) on investments	84,659	81,640	178,537	163,311
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	(20)	0	(31)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(41,056)	126,008	(146,937)	558,626
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	(740)	80,602	(80,454)	160,900
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	0	7,708	0
Other income	1,328	1,404	4,163	4,048
Total revenues	260,789	508,052	599,349	1,583,292
Provision for losses	176,352	249,598	653,374	940,537
Change in reserve for premium deficiency	966	(1,942)	1,505	(6,427)
Policy acquisition costs	12,927	11,449	51,778	39,967
Other operating expenses	50,429	45,240	140,776	137,413
Interest expense	12,520	14,094	39,249	47,197
Total expenses	253,194	318,439	886,682	1,158,687
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	0	0	(13)	65
Pretax income (loss)	7,595	189,613	(287,346)	424,670
Income tax (benefit) provision	(6,730)	6,045	(13,180)	981
Net (loss) income	14,325	183,568	(274,166)	423,689
Deferred policy acquisition costs	91,271		91,271		139,906
Total assets	6,041,357		6,041,357		6,656,765
Unearned premiums	614,455		614,455		637,372
Reserve for losses and LAE	3,119,597		3,119,597		3,310,902
VIE debt	109,651		109,651		228,240
Derivative liabilities	267,323		267,323		126,006
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written-insurance	209,890	178,215	589,261	523,255
Net premiums earned-insurance	178,685	163,436	522,899	513,895
Net investment income	14,758	21,642	50,377	73,328
Net gains (losses) on investments	43,379	53,263	102,219	98,450
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	(20)	0	(31)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(1)	200	(32)	64
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	(1,960)	2,486	(2,627)	4,321
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	0	0	0
Other income	1,280	1,357	3,928	3,881
Total revenues	236,141	242,364	676,764	693,908
Provision for losses	171,805	276,599	614,612	960,564
Change in reserve for premium deficiency	966	(1,942)	1,505	(6,427)
Policy acquisition costs	10,126	7,834	26,662	26,651
Other operating expenses	40,250	36,082	107,787	104,132
Interest expense	1,910	2,015	5,355	11,950
Total expenses	225,057	320,588	755,921	1,096,870
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Pretax income (loss)	11,084	(78,224)	(79,157)	(402,962)
Income tax (benefit) provision	(20,316)	(36,033)	(42,324)	(27,158)
Net (loss) income	31,400	(42,191)	(36,833)	(375,804)
Cash and investments	3,192,341	3,176,860	3,192,341	3,176,860
Deferred policy acquisition costs	39,148	47,863	39,148	47,863
Total assets	3,651,849	3,731,978	3,651,849	3,731,978
Unearned premiums	333,144	206,477	333,144	206,477
Reserve for losses and LAE	3,046,706	3,214,854	3,046,706	3,214,854
VIE debt	9,448	31,164	9,448	31,164
Derivative liabilities	0	0	0	0
New Insurance Written	10,598	4,107	25,398	8,973
Financial Guaranty Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written-insurance	(613)	72	(120,374)	(9,441)
Net premiums earned-insurance	12,278	16,219	22,208	57,717
Net investment income	10,877	17,121	40,848	51,498
Net gains (losses) on investments	41,280	28,377	76,318	64,861
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	0	0	0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(41,055)	125,808	(146,905)	558,562
Net gains (losses) on other financial instruments	1,220	78,116	(77,827)	156,579
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	0	7,708	0
Other income	48	47	235	167
Total revenues	24,648	265,688	(77,415)	889,384
Provision for losses	4,547	(27,001)	38,762	(20,027)
Change in reserve for premium deficiency	0	0	0	0
Policy acquisition costs	2,801	3,615	25,116	13,316
Other operating expenses	10,179	9,158	32,989	33,281
Interest expense	10,610	12,079	33,894	35,247
Total expenses	28,137	(2,149)	130,761	61,817
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	0	0	(13)	65
Pretax income (loss)	(3,489)	267,837	(208,189)	827,632
Income tax (benefit) provision	13,586	42,078	29,144	28,139
Net (loss) income	(17,075)	225,759	(237,333)	799,493
Cash and investments	2,099,454	2,759,726	2,099,454	2,759,726
Deferred policy acquisition costs	52,123	91,099	52,123	91,099
Total assets	2,389,508	3,514,307	2,389,508	3,514,307
Unearned premiums	281,311	421,923	281,311	421,923
Reserve for losses and LAE	72,891	45,702	72,891	45,702
VIE debt	100,203	242,215	100,203	242,215
Derivative liabilities	$ 267,323	$ 188,921	$ 267,323	$ 188,921