Note 8 - Other Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Deposit with the IRS (Note 9)		$ 88,557		$ 88,557		$ 88,557
Corporate-owned life insurance		85,699		85,699		83,248
Securities Loaned, Asset		60,876		60,876
Property and equipment	[1],[2]	88,119		88,119		70,665
Accrued investment income		31,390		31,390		29,255
Deferred policy acquisition costs		15,816		15,816		14,127
Reinsurance recoverables		7,605		7,605		7,368
Other		60,954		60,954		50,615
Total other assets		439,016		439,016		343,835
Property and Equipment, Owned, Accumulated Depreciation		101,700		101,700		118,500
Depreciation		4,600	$ 2,900	12,800	$ 7,600
Prepaid reinsurance premium		239,620		239,620		229,438
Technology Upgrade Related Costs [Member]
Property and equipment		45,000		45,000		49,700
Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property and equipment		15,700		15,700
Securities Financing Transaction, Fair Value [Member]
Securities Loaned, Asset	[3]	$ 60,876		$ 60,876
Securities Held as Collateral, at Fair Value						$ 0

[1] Includes $45.0 million and $49.7 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to our technology upgrade project and $15.7 million at September 30, 2017 of leasehold improvements related to our new corporate headquarters.

[2] Property and equipment at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $101.7 million and $118.5 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Depreciation expense was $4.6 million and $2.9 million for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $12.8 million and $7.6 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

[3] Our securities loaned under securities lending agreements are included at fair value within other assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. All of our securities lending agreements are classified as overnight and continuous. None of the amounts are subject to offsetting.