Note 3 - Segment Reporting Schedule of Segment Reporting Information by Segment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	$ 940,817,000	$ 686,630,000	$ 707,247,000
Net premiums earned-insurance	830,894,000	738,982,000	756,025,000
Net investment income	108,088,000	114,337,000	163,520,000
Net (losses) gains on investments	(149,720,000)	184,888,000	202,177,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(3,000)	(3,000)	(1,202,000)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(31,771,000)	(144,025,000)	628,395,000
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(4,736,000)	(82,269,000)	193,329,000
Gain on sale of affiliate	0	7,708,000	0
Other income	6,235,000	5,790,000	5,599,000
Total revenues	758,987,000	825,408,000	1,947,843,000
Provision for losses	567,134,000	959,171,000	1,296,521,000
Change in PDR	(1,901,000)	41,000	(7,092,000)
Policy acquisition costs	41,664,000	61,876,000	52,763,000
Other operating expenses	284,528,000	196,672,000	175,810,000
Interest expense	74,618,000	51,832,000	61,394,000
Total expenses	966,043,000	1,269,592,000	1,579,396,000
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	1,000	(13,000)	65,000
(Loss) income before income taxes	(207,055,000)	(444,197,000)	368,512,000
Net (loss) income	(196,985,000)	(451,468,000)	302,150,000
Cash and investments	4,977,542,000	5,208,199,000	5,846,168,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	66,926,000	88,202,000	139,906,000
Total assets	5,621,691,000	5,903,200,000	6,656,765,000
Unearned premiums	768,871,000	648,682,000	637,372,000
Reserve for losses and LAE	2,185,421,000	3,149,936,000	3,310,902,000
VIE debt - at fair value	94,645,000	108,858,000	228,240,000
Derivative liabilities	307,185,000	266,873,000	126,006,000
New Insurance Written
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	950,998,000	806,305,000	717,264,000
Net premiums earned-insurance	781,420,000	702,385,000	680,895,000
Net investment income	61,615,000	63,191,000	93,678,000
Net (losses) gains on investments	(93,821,000)	103,666,000	126,205,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0	0	(1,202,000)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	635,000	(330,000)	(632,000)
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(2,840,000)	(3,491,000)	3,864,000
Gain on sale of affiliate		0
Other income	6,024,000	5,516,000	5,369,000
Total revenues	753,033,000	870,937,000	908,177,000
Provision for losses	564,648,000	921,507,000	1,293,857,000
Change in PDR	(1,901,000)	41,000	(7,092,000)
Policy acquisition costs	28,485,000	34,131,000	36,051,000
Other operating expenses	236,959,000	152,448,000	132,225,000
Interest expense	17,995,000	7,454,000	13,894,000
Total expenses	846,186,000	1,115,581,000	1,468,935,000
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	0	0	0
(Loss) income before income taxes	(93,153,000)	(244,644,000)	(560,758,000)
Cash and investments	2,683,467,000	3,118,153,000	3,210,279,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	29,741,000	38,478,000	52,094,000
Total assets	3,120,904,000	3,575,427,000	3,470,103,000
Unearned premiums	567,072,000	382,413,000	233,446,000
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Property Casualty Liability	2,164,353,000	3,083,608,000	3,247,900,000
VIE debt - at fair value	2,845,000	9,875,000	9,450,000
Derivative liabilities	0	0	0
New Insurance Written	47,255,000,000	37,061,000,000	15,510,000,000
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%	10.00%
Primary New Insurance Written Major Customer for Segment Reporting Percentage	5.80%	6.20%	10.10%
Entity Wide Revenue, Major Customer, Number of Customers	1	2
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | State Of California [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Direct Primary New Insurance Written by Geographic Area Percent	18.40%	17.10%	15.30%
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Risk In Force [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | State Of California [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	13.70%	12.80%
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Pool Risk in Force [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | State Of California [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%	10.40%
Financial Guaranty Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net premiums written—insurance	(10,181,000)	(119,675,000)	(10,017,000)
Net premiums earned-insurance	49,474,000	36,597,000	75,130,000
Net investment income	46,473,000	51,146,000	69,842,000
Net (losses) gains on investments	(55,899,000)	81,222,000	75,972,000
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(3,000)	(3,000)	0
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(32,406,000)	(143,695,000)	629,027,000
Net (losses) gains on other financial instruments	(1,896,000)	(78,778,000)	189,465,000
Gain on sale of affiliate		7,708,000
Other income	211,000	274,000	230,000
Total revenues	5,954,000	(45,529,000)	1,039,666,000
Provision for losses	2,486,000	37,664,000	2,664,000
Change in PDR	0	0	0
Policy acquisition costs	13,179,000	27,745,000	16,712,000
Other operating expenses	47,569,000	44,224,000	43,585,000
Interest expense	56,623,000	44,378,000	47,500,000
Total expenses	119,857,000	154,011,000	110,461,000
Equity in net income (loss) of affiliates	1,000	(13,000)	65,000
(Loss) income before income taxes	(113,902,000)	(199,553,000)	929,270,000
Cash and investments	2,294,075,000	2,090,046,000	2,635,889,000
Deferred policy acquisition costs	37,185,000	49,724,000	87,812,000
Total assets	2,500,787,000	2,327,773,000	3,186,662,000
Unearned premiums	201,799,000	266,269,000	403,926,000
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Financial Guarantee Insurance Contracts	21,068,000	66,328,000	63,002,000
VIE debt - at fair value	91,800,000	98,983,000	218,790,000
Derivative liabilities	$ 307,185,000	$ 266,873,000	$ 126,006,000
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Risk In Force [Member] | Geographic Concentration Risk [Member] | State Of California [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration Risk, Percentage	10.00%