Schedule II Condensed Financial Information of Registrant Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss attributable to Midwest Holding Inc.	$ (1,950,439)	$ (1,657,687)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries	(267,481)	(861,622)
Depreciation	322,809	366,366
Net realized gains on investments	5,736	134,120
Realized gain on deconsolidation of Hot Dot, Inc.		278,513
Equity in the net (loss) income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(10,023)	36,043
Non cash compensation expense	11,500	11,500
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest and dividends due and accrued	42,342	(31,847)
Other assets and liabilities	(855,762)	(63,586)
Net cash used in operating activities	512,765	(2,700,672)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases	(10,334,469)	(14,528,678)
Proceeds from sale or maturity	7,088,586	12,342,364
Net change of mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment	11,442	238,454
Net change in notes receivable		144,999
Purchases of property and equipment	(94,491)	(174,710)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,438,815)	331,716
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock	215,783
Net proceeds from issuing equity in Hot Dot, Inc.		3,350,409
Net transfers from noncontrolling interests	97,181	81,218
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,957,473	4,245,786
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(968,577)	1,876,830
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning	4,346,555	2,469,725
Ending	3,377,978	4,346,555
Parent Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss attributable to Midwest Holding Inc.	(1,950,439)	(1,657,687)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries	485,418	838,229
Depreciation	39,687	49,074
Net realized gains on investments		783
Realized gain on deconsolidation of Hot Dot, Inc.		278,513
Gain on initial consolidation of Great Plains Financial Corporation		(118,612)
Equity in the net (loss) income of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(10,024)	36,043
Non cash compensation expense	11,500	11,500
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest and dividends due and accrued		(256)
Other assets and liabilities	(993,397)	(203,306)
Net cash used in operating activities	106,321	(989,273)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases		(1,398,303)
Proceeds from sale or maturity	9,000	68,388
Net change of mortgage loans on real estate, held for investment		230,000
Net change in notes receivable		220,000
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,335)	(30,292)
Net cash used in investing activities	6,665	(910,207)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repurchases of common stock	215,783
Net proceeds from issuing equity in Hot Dot, Inc.		588,103
Net transfers from noncontrolling interests		(104,977)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(215,783)	693,080
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(102,797)	(1,206,400)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning	152,909	1,359,309
Ending	$ 50,112	$ 152,909