Note 10 - Losses and LAE Mortgage Insurance Loss Reserves Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		$ 760,269
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Balance at March 31		651,591		$ 760,269
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Balance at January 1		760,269	$ 976,399	976,399
Less reinsurance recoverables	[1]	6,851	8,286	8,286
Balance at beginning of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		753,418	968,113	968,113
Add losses and LAE incurred in respect of default notices reported and unreported in [Abstract]
Current year	[2]	88,906	100,999
Prior years		(24,721)	(8,438)
Total incurred losses and LAE		64,185	92,561
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Paid Losses and LAE Current year	[2]	1,027	632
Paid losses and LAE Prior years		172,356	217,740
Total paid losses and LAE		173,383	218,372
Balance at end of period, net of reinsurance recoverables		644,220	842,302	753,418
Add reinsurance recoverables	[1]	7,371	6,077	6,851
Balance at March 31		$ 651,591	$ 848,379	$ 760,269
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For New Defaults		11.00%	12.50%	12.00%
Mortgage Insurance Segment | Primary Mortgage Product [Member]
Loss reserve [Roll Forward]
Less reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 6,816
Deduct paid claims and LAE related to [Abstract]
Add reinsurance recoverables	[3]	$ 7,341		$ 6,816
Default To Claim Rate Detail [Abstract]
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Net Of Denials Rescissions and Reinstatements		43.00%		42.00%
Weighted Average Default To Claim Rate Assumption Excluding Pending Claims Net Of Denials And Rescissions		41.00%		40.00%
Default To Claim Rate Estimate, Gross, For Pre-Foreclosure Stage Defaults		62.00%
Gross Default To Claim Rate Estimate		81.00%

[1] Related to ceded losses recoverable, if any, on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction. See Note 7 for additional information.

[2] Related to underlying defaulted loans with a most recent default notice dated in the year indicated. For example, if a loan had defaulted in a prior year, but then subsequently cured and later re-defaulted in the current year, that default would be considered a current year default.

[3] Represents ceded losses on captive reinsurance transactions, the QSR Transactions and the Single Premium QSR Transaction.