Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets Abstract Assets Current Assets [Abstract] Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Total cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable Total accounts receivable Deferred Tax Assets Net Current Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Prepaid Expense, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense, Current, Total Assets, Current Total current assets Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, Total Other Assets Noncurrent Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Ending Balance Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Beginning Balance Intangible assets, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Total Assets Total assets Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current Liabilities: Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accrued compensation and benefits Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Total carrying values as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to marketing and advertising services received from vendors. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Accrued Marketing Expenses. Accrued marketing expenses Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent Non-current liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Stockholders' equity: Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Total Treasury stock, at cost Treasury stock, at cost Amount of Repurchase, Cumulative balance at September 30, 2012 Amount of Repurchase, Cumulative balance at December 31, 2011 Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity.. Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensice Income (Loss) [Abstract] Revenue Insurance Commissions And Fees Commission Commission revenue Revenue recognized during the period from lead generation, technology licensing and online sponsorship and advertising activities. Other Revenue Other Revenues Total revenue Operating costs and expenses: Cost of revenue-sharing Cost of revenue Cost of Revenue, Total Marketing and advertising Marketing and Advertising Expense, Total The total expense recognized in the period related to providing customer care and enrollment services. These services include pre-sales assistance to applicants who call our customer care center and enrollment services to applicants during the underwriting process. Customer Care And Enrollment Expense Customer care and enrollment The total expense recognized in the period for technology and content. Technology and content expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefits costs for personnel associated with developing and enhancing our website technology as well as maintaining our website. Technology And Content Expense Technology and content General and administrative General and Administrative Expense, Total Amortization of acquired intangible assets Amortization of intangible assets Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Costs and Expenses Total operating costs and expenses Income from operations Income from operations Other income (expense), net Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Income before income taxes Income before provision for income taxes Income before provision for income taxes Provision for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Net income Net income (loss) Net income (loss) allocated to common stock Net Income (Loss) Per Share [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share: Earnings Per Share Basic Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Net income (loss) per share-basic: Earnings Per Share Diluted Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Net income (loss) per share-diluted: Weighted-average number of shares used in per share amounts: Basic Net weighted average number of common stock shares outstanding Diluted Total common stock shares used in per share calculation Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Comprehensive income (loss): Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Foreign currency translation adjustment Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Total Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income (loss) Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating activities Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Depreciation Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Total Amortization Of Book Of Business Consideration Amortization Of Book Of Business Consideration Amortization of book-of-business consideration Stock-based compensation expense Total stock-based compensation expense Total stock-based compensation expense Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation The net change during the reporting period in the amount due that is the result of the cumulative difference between actual rent due and rent expense recognized on a straight-line basis. Increase Decrease In Deferred Rent Expense Deferred rent Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Loss on disposal of fixed assets Loss on disposal of property and equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property, Total Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Other assets Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets, Total Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable Accounts payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities Accrued compensation and benefits Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities, Total The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in accrued marketing expenses. Increase Decrease In Accrued Marketing Expenses Accrued marketing expenses Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Other Operating Liabilities Other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities, Total Net cash provided by operating activities Net cash provided by operating activities Investing activities Purchases of property and equipment Purchases of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Purchase of other assets Consideration paid in connection with book-of-business transfers Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Financing activities Proceeds from exercise of common stock options Net proceeds from exercise of common stock options Cash used to net-share settle equity awards Cash used to net-share settle equity awards Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Repurchases of common stock Repurchase of common stock Repurchase of common stock Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Principal payments in connection with capital leases Principal payments in connection with capital lease Net cash used in financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies Text Block Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies Cash, Cash Equivalents And Accounts Receivable [Abstract] Cash, Cash Equivalents And Accounts Receivable [Abstract] Cash, Cash Equivalents And Accounts Receivable [Text Block] Cash, Cash Equivalents And Accounts Receivable [Text Block] Cash, Cash Equivalents And Accounts Receivable Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Shareholders' Equity and Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Income Taxes Earnings Per Share Text Block Net Income (Loss) Per Share Geographic Information And Significant Customers [Abstract] Segment Reporting Disclosure Text Block Geographic Information And Significant Customers Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Basis Of Presentation Seasonality Policy [Policy Text Block] Seasonality Policy [Policy Text Block] Seasonality Book Of Business Transfers Policy [Policy Text Block] Book Of Business Transfers Policy [Policy Text Block] Book-Of-Business Transfers Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Cash And Cash Equivalents Schedule of Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block] Schedule of Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Accounts Receivable Schedule Of Shares Available For Grant Roll Forward [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Shares Available For Grant Roll Forward [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Shares Available For Grant Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Option Activity Under Stock Plans Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Restricted Stock Unit Activity Under Stock Plans Schedule of Treasury Stock by Class [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Stock Repurchase Activity Under Stock Repurchase Programs Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Fair Value Of Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Stock-Based Compensation Expense Summary Of Provision For Income Taxes And Effective Tax Rate [Table Text Block] Summary Of Provision For Income Taxes And Effective Tax Rate [Table Text Block] Summary Of Provision For Income Taxes And Effective Tax Rate Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Computation Of Basic And Diluted Net Income Per Share Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Anti-dilutive Shares Excluded From Computation Of Net Income Per Share Schedule Of Long Lived Assets By Geographical Areas [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Long Lived Assets By Geographical Areas [Table Text Block] Schedule Of Long Lived Assets By Geographical Areas Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers by Reporting Segments [Table Text Block] Schedule of Revenue by Major Customers Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Credit Facility [Axis] Credit Facility [Domain] Credit Facility [Domain] Standby Letters Of Credit [Member] Standby Letters of Credit [Member] Contractual Obligations By Name [Axis] Contractual Obligations By Name [Axis] Contractual Obligations By Name [Domain] Contractual Obligations By Name [Domain] Contractual Obligations By Name [Domain] Gold River, California Lease Agreement [Member] Gold River California Lease Agreement [Member] Gold River, California Lease Agreement [Member] South Jordan, Utah Lease Agreement [Member] South Jordan Utah Lease Agreement [Member] South Jordan, Utah Lease Agreement [Member] Mountain View, California Lease Agreement [Member] Mountain View California Lease Agreement [Member] Mountain View, California Lease Agreement [Member] Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] Summary Of Business And Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] Number of States in which Entity Operates Number of states in which the Company is licensed to market and sell health insurance Business Combination, Consideration Transferred Book-of-Business transfers total consideration Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Total Finite-lived Intangible Assets Acquired Book-of-Business transfers consideration during period Amortization Of Consideration Transferred, Period Amortization Of Consideration Transferred, Period Amortization of consideration transferred, period Other Deferred Cost, Amortization Expense Amortization expense of consideration Operating Lease Term Operating Lease Term Operating lease term Operating Leases Annual Rent Expense Operating Leases Annual Rent Expense Base rent of operating lease Operating Lease Base Rent Annual Increase, Percentage Operating Lease Base Rent Annual Increase, Percentage Operating lease, percentage of annual base rent increase Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Future minimum payments related to operating lease Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount Standby letter of credit Reduction Of Standby Letter Of Credit Amount, Percentage Reduction Of Standby Letter Of Credit Amount, Percentage Reduction of stanby letter of credit financial guarantee amount, percentage Guaranty Liabilities Service obligations Service Agreement Term Service Agreement Term Service agreement term Cash Cash, Ending Balance Cash, Beginning Balance Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Money market funds Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Accounts and Other Receivables, Net, Current Accounts receivable - from other revenues Commissions Receivable Net Current Commissions Receivable Net Current Commissions receivable Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested In Period Grant Date Fair Value Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested In Period Grant Date Fair Value Total grant date fair value of stock options vested Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Other Than Options Vested In Period Grant Date Fair Value Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Other Than Options Vested In Period Grant Date Fair Value Total grant date fair value of restricted stock units vested Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount Stock repurchase program, authorized amount Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share Average price per share of stock repurchased under stock repurchase program Average Price Paid per Share, Repurchases of common stock Treasury Stock, Shares Total Number of Shares Purchased, Cumulative balance at September 30, 2012 Total Number of Shares Purchased, Cumulative balance at December 31, 2011 Treasury stock shares purchased Shares Surrendered For Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation Shares Surrendered For Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation Shares surrendered by employees to satisfy tax withholdings Treasury Stock, Number of Shares Held Treasury stock, number of shares held Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Plan Name [Axis] Plan Name [Domain] Plan Name [Domain] Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Two Thousand Six Equity Incentive Plan [Member] 2006 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant Shares available for grant September 30, 2012 Shares available for grant December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized Additional shares authorized Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross Options granted Options granted Number of Stock Options, Granted Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Restricted stock units granted Restricted stock units granted Number Outstanding, Granted Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period Number of Stock Options, Cancelled Options cancelled Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Total Number of Stock Options, Cancelled Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period Number Outstanding, Cancelled Restricted stock units cancelled Number Outstanding, Cancelled Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Number of Stock Options, Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Number of Stock Options, Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Number of Stock Options, Exercised Number of Stock Options, Exercised Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number Number of Stock Options, Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Number Number of Stock Options, Exercisable at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Weighted Average Exercise Price, Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Cancelled Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Total Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercisable at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Exercisable at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Exercisable at September 30, 2012 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number Number Outstanding, Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Number Outstanding, Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Number Outstanding, Vested Number Outstanding, Vested Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Terms Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years), Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Other Than Options Aggregate Intrinsic Value Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Other Than Options Aggregate Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Balance outstanding at September 30, 2012 Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Balance outstanding at December 31, 2011 Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Repurchase of common stock, shares Repurchase of common stock, shares Total Number of Shares Purchased, Repurchases of common stock