Note 9 - Reserve for Premium Deficiency First Lien Portfolio (Details) (Mortgage Insurance Segment)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
First Lien Portfolio for PDR Disclosure [Member]
First Lien Portfolio Premium Excess [Line Items]
First Lien PDR Discount Rate (Pre-Tax Investment Yield)	1.73%	2.62%
Total First Lien Loans [Member]
First Lien Expected Losses Assumptions [Abstract]
Expected Paid Claim Rate In Our First Lien PDR	12.40%
Paid Claim Rate Percentage Which Would Require Us To Establish A First-Lien PDR	14.40%
Performing Loans [Member]
First Lien Expected Losses Assumptions [Abstract]
Expected Paid Claim Rate In Our First Lien PDR	7.00%
Nonperforming Loans [Member]
First Lien Expected Losses Assumptions [Abstract]
Expected Paid Claim Rate In Our First Lien PDR	46.00%