Note 10 - Losses and Loss Adjustment Expense Mortgage Insurance Reserve for Losses and LAE by Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018		Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		$ 388,784		$ 401,361
Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense		385,361	[1]	397,891	[1]	$ 485,192	$ 507,588
Prime | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	[1]	240,489		242,135
Alt-A and A minus and below | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Unpaid Claims	[1]	111,955		119,553
Primary Mortgage Product | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
IBNR and other	[1]	13,008		13,864
LAE	[1]	8,994		10,271
Total primary reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	[1]	374,446		385,823
Total pool reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	[1]	10,621		11,640
Total First-lien reserves | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	[1]	385,067		397,463
Other (Second-lien reserves) | Mortgage Insurance Segment
Liability for Future Policy Benefit, by Product Segment [Line Items]
Liability for Claims and Claims Adjustment Expense	[1],[2]	$ 294		$ 428

[1] Includes ceded losses on reinsurance transactions, which are expected to be recovered and are included in the reinsurance recoverables reported in other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. See Note 8.

[2] Does not include our second-lien premium deficiency reserve that is included in other liabilities.