Note 8 - Reinsurance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Reinsurance Disclosures [Abstract]

Effects of Reinsurance [Table Text Block]

The effect of reinsurance on net premiums written and earned is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2017			2016			2015
Net premiums written—insurance:
Direct	$	1,032,735		$	1,000,111		$	1,009,409
Assumed	25			29			104
Ceded (1)	(214,343		)	(266,306		)	(41,008		)
Net premiums written—insurance	$	818,417		$	733,834		$	968,505
Net premiums earned—insurance:
Direct	$	990,016		$	999,093		$	973,645
Assumed	28			35			43
Ceded (1)	(57,271		)	(77,359		)	(57,780		)
Net premiums earned—insurance	$	932,773		$	921,769		$	915,908

______________________

(1) Net of profit commission.

Ceded Credit Risk [Table Text Block]

The following tables show the amounts related to the QSR Transactions and the 2016 Single Premium QSR Transaction for the periods indicated:

	QSR Transactions						2016 Single Premium QSR Transaction
	Year Ended December 31,						Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2015		2017		2016		2015
Ceded premiums written (1)	$	19,356	$	28,097	$	30,213	$	193,517	$	233,206	$	—
Ceded premiums earned (1)	28,503		42,515		46,975		27,284		29,808		—
Ceding commissions written	5,536		8,019		11,443		55,333		66,153		—
Ceding commissions earned (2)	13,122		16,573		14,453		13,774		15,303		—
Ceded losses, net	771		1,858		1,187		2,490		2,262		—

______________________

(1) Net of profit commission.

(2) Includes amounts reported in policy acquisition costs and other operating expenses.