Note 8 - Losses and LAE Rescissions And Denials (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 percentagepoint		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Claims Denied in the Last Twelve Months [Member]
Rescissions And Denials [Line Items]
Number of Months That the Gross Reinstatement Rate Used in Estimating Claim Liability Declines	12 months
Policies Rescinded in the Last Twenty Four Months [Member]
Rescissions And Denials [Line Items]
Number of Months That the Gross Reinstatement Rate Used in Estimating Claim Liability Declines	24 months
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Rescissions And Denials [Line Items]
Decrease To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Rescissions And Denials	$ 219,000,000				$ 247,000,000
Increase To Our Loss Reserves Due To Estimated Future Reinstatements Of Previously Rescinded Policies And Denied Claims	285,000,000				283,000,000
Prior years	(93,536,000)		(50,578,000)
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims, Amount	288,200,000				281,900,000
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Claim rescissions	16,100,000		15,300,000
Claim denials	12,200,000		27,200,000
Total rescissions and denials	28,300,000	[1]	42,500,000	[1]
Accrued Liability For Premiums Expected To Be Refunded From Rescissions	14,800,000				17,000,000
Percentage Point Change In Severity Used In Assumption Shift Analysis	1
First Lien Primary Claim Severity	28.00%
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change In Primary Claim Severity	49,000,000
First Lien Pool Claim Severity	44.00%
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change In Pool Claim Severity	2,000,000
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials And Rescissions	46.00%				47.00%
Impact To Loss Reserves Based On One Percentage Change in Default To Claim Rate	32,000,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Denials [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Reported and Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims	163,800,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Claim Curtailments [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Reported and Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims	13,400,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Rescissions [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Liability for Unpaid Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense, Reported and Incurred but Not Reported (IBNR) Claims	93,300,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Claims Denied in the Last Twelve Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Exposure Related to Denied Claims From Previous Twelve Months	266,900,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Policies Rescinded in the Last Twenty Four Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Exposure Related to Rescinded Policies Within Twenty Four Months	362,500,000
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Claim Curtailments [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Claim Curtailments, Gross	$ 80,200,000
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Claims Denied in the Last Twelve Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Reinstatement Percentage Assumption for Denied Claims	60.00%
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Policies Rescinded in the Last Twenty Four Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Reinstatement Percentage Assumption on Rescinded Policies	20.00%
Maximum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Curtailed Claim Payments in the Last Twenty Four Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Reinstatement Percentage Assumption on Claim Curtailments	30.00%
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Claims Denied in the Last Twelve Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Reinstatement Percentage Assumption for Denied Claims	0.00%
Minimum [Member] | Mortgage Insurance Segment | Policies Rescinded in the Last Twenty Four Months [Member]
Claims Rescissions and Denials [Abstract]
Gross Reinstatement Percentage Assumption on Rescinded Policies	0.00%

[1] Includes an amount related to a small number of submitted claims that were subsequently withdrawn by the insured.