Note 8 - Losses and LAE Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates (Details) (Mortgage Insurance Segment)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013
Q3 2010 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q3 2010
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	16.10%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	100.00%	[2]
Q4 2010 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q4 2010
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	17.50%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	100.00%	[2]
Q1 2011 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q1 2011
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	20.90%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	99.00%	[2]
Q2 2011 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q2 2011
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	25.80%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	99.00%	[2]
Q3 2011 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q3 2011
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	31.20%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	99.00%	[2]
Q4 2011 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q4 2011
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	27.60%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	97.00%	[2]
Q1 2012 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q1 2012
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	22.80%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	91.00%	[2]
Q2 2012 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q2 2012
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	19.20%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	73.00%	[2]
Q3 2012 [Member]
Cumulative Rescission and Denial Rates [Line Items]
Claim Received Quarter	Q3 2012
Cummulative Rescission Rate For Each Quarter	15.30%	[1]
Percentage Of Claims Resolved	55.00%	[2]

[1] cumulative rescission/denial rates represent the ratio of claims rescinded or denied to claims received (by claim count). Rescissions and denials are net of actual reinstatements, plus our current estimate for expected reinstatements of previously rescinded or denied claims. These amounts represent the cumulative rates for each quarter as of March 31, 2013. As discussed in footnote (2) below, these rates remain subject to change based on differences between estimated and actual reinstatements of previously rescinded policies or denied claims. Until all of the claims received during the periods shown have been internally resolved, the rescission/denial rates for each quarter are projections and remain subject to change.

[2] The percentage of claims resolved for each quarter presented in the table above, represents the number of claims that have been internally resolved as a percentage of the total number of claims received for that specific quarter. A claim is considered internally resolved when it is either paid or it is concluded that the claim should be denied or rescinded, though such denials or rescissions could be challenged and, potentially reinstated or overturned. For the fourth quarter of 2012 and first quarter of 2013, a significant portion of claims received for those quarters have not been internally resolved; therefore, we do not believe the cumulative rescission/denial rates for those periods are presently meaningful.