Note 15 - Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net investment income		$ 28,430,000	$ 22,091,000	$ 84,470,000	$ 58,704,000
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments		7,711,000	3,868,000	69,524,000	49,095,000
Other income		3,497,000	1,711,000	8,835,000	4,785,000
Total revenues		320,883,000	297,292,000	964,003,000	918,371,000
Policy acquisition costs		6,119,000	2,880,000	17,901,000	17,593,000
Other operating expenses		64,862,000	65,082,000	189,531,000	186,587,000
Total expenses		193,942,000	181,607,000	578,113,000	585,252,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0	0	0	5,385,000
Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of Stock, Percentage of Ownership before Transaction	100.00%
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration	$ 810,000,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		$ 0	$ 0	0
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Radian Asset Assurance [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total Operating Expenses Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company				0	0
Total Interest Expense Allocated to Subsidiaries From Parent Company				$ 0	0
Net premiums earned					1,007,000
Net investment income					9,153,000
Net gains (losses) on investments and other financial instruments					21,486,000
Change in fair value of derivative instruments					2,625,000
Total revenues					34,271,000
Provision for losses					502,000
Policy acquisition costs					(191,000)
Other operating expenses					4,107,000
Total expenses					4,418,000
Equity in net (loss) of affiliates					(13,000)
Income from operations of businesses held for sale					29,840,000
Loss on sale					(14,280,000)	$ (467,500,000)
Income tax provision					10,175,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax					$ 5,385,000