Note 1 Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements	3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements
Note 1 Significant Accounting Policies and Practices	Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (A) Business and Organization Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("IHC"), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its wholly owned insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life") and Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"); (ii) its majority owned insurance company, Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (iii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Administrative Services, Inc., IHC Risk Solutions, LLC, its full service direct writer of medical stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups, and the managing general underwriters ("MGUs") in which it owns a significant voting interest, IHC Health Solutions, Inc. (“IHC Health Solutions”) and Actuarial Management Corporation (“AMC”). These companies are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Insurance Group," and IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company." At September 30, 2011, IHC also owns a 76% interest in American Independence Corp. (“AMIC”). Geneve Corporation, a diversified financial holding company, and its affiliated entities held approximately 50.5% of IHC's outstanding common stock at September 30, 2011. (B) Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (iii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. IHC’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods have been included. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year. (C) Recent Accounting Pronouncements *Recently Adopted Accounting Standards* In December 2010, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the existing requirements for pro forma revenue and earnings disclosures, and expands the supplemental pro forma revenue and earnings disclosures, for public companies that have completed business acquisitions. The amendments in this guidance were effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In December 2010, the FASB issued guidance that amends existing goodwill impairment test standards to include a requirement that entities perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts if it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. This guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2010, the FASB issued standards requiring entities to provide the activity of Level 3 security purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements. *Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted* In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance related to evaluating goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides entities with the option to perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. Entities also have the option to bypass the assessment of qualitative factors for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test, as was required prior to the issuance of this new guidance. An entity may begin or resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In July 2011, the FASB issued guidance specifying that the liability for the fees paid to the Federal Government by health insurers as a result of recent healthcare reform legislation should be estimated and recorded in full once the entity provides qualifying health insurance in the applicable calendar year in which the fee is payable with a corresponding deferred cost that is amortized to expense using a straight-line method of allocation unless another method better allocates the fee over the calendar year that it is payable. The amendments in this Update are effective for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2013, when the fee initially becomes effective. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance that requires all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Some of the amendments in this update clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of certain existing fair value measurement requirements and other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. None of the amendments in this update require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. For public entities, this guidance is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In April 2011, the FASB issued guidance that amends existing standards with regards to transfers of financial assets under repurchase and other agreements that entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem the assets prior to maturity. Specifically, with respect to assessing effective control in such agreements, the criteria that the transferor must have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even upon the transferee's default, has been eliminated; as has the corresponding criterion calling for the transferor to have obtained cash or other sufficient collateral to purchase replacement assets from a third party, which was required to demonstrate such ability. This guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance that specifies the accounting treatment for the costs incurred by insurance entities when acquiring new and renewal insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively upon adoption. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. (D) Subsequent Events Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The Company has evaluated all such events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date herein of September 30, 2011. The effects of all subsequent events that provided additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, including estimates, if any, have been recognized in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as of and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

Note 1 Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements

3 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements

Note 1 Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

Note 1. Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

(A) Business and Organization

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation ("IHC"), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its wholly owned insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life") and Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"); (ii) its majority owned insurance company, Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (iii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Administrative Services, Inc., IHC Risk Solutions, LLC, its full service direct writer of medical stop-loss insurance for self-insured employer groups, and the managing general underwriters ("MGUs") in which it owns a significant voting interest, IHC Health Solutions, Inc. (“IHC Health Solutions”) and Actuarial Management Corporation (“AMC”). These companies are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Insurance Group," and IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company." At September 30, 2011, IHC also owns a 76% interest in American Independence Corp. (“AMIC”).

Geneve Corporation, a diversified financial holding company, and its affiliated entities held approximately 50.5% of IHC's outstanding common stock at September 30, 2011.

(B) Basis of Presentation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (iii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. IHC’s annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial position and results of operations for the interim periods have been included. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be anticipated for the entire year.

(C) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2010, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies the existing requirements for pro forma revenue and earnings disclosures, and expands the supplemental pro forma revenue and earnings disclosures, for public companies that have completed business acquisitions. The amendments in this guidance were effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In December 2010, the FASB issued guidance that amends existing goodwill impairment test standards to include a requirement that entities perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts if it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. This guidance was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In January 2010, the FASB issued standards requiring entities to provide the activity of Level 3 security purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance, effective January 1, 2011, did not have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In September 2011, the FASB issued guidance related to evaluating goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides entities with the option to perform a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount before applying the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. If an entity concludes that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, it would not be required to perform the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. Entities also have the option to bypass the assessment of qualitative factors for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to performing the first step of the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test, as was required prior to the issuance of this new guidance. An entity may begin or resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In July 2011, the FASB issued guidance specifying that the liability for the fees paid to the Federal Government by health insurers as a result of recent healthcare reform legislation should be estimated and recorded in full once the entity provides qualifying health insurance in the applicable calendar year in which the fee is payable with a corresponding deferred cost that is amortized to expense using a straight-line method of allocation unless another method better allocates the fee over the calendar year that it is payable. The amendments in this Update are effective for calendar years beginning after December 31, 2013, when the fee initially becomes effective. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance that requires all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued guidance to achieve common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. Some of the amendments in this update clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of certain existing fair value measurement requirements and other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. None of the amendments in this update require additional fair value measurements and are not intended to establish valuation standards or affect valuation practices outside of financial reporting. For public entities, this guidance is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2011, the FASB issued guidance that amends existing standards with regards to transfers of financial assets under repurchase and other agreements that entitle and obligate the transferor to repurchase or redeem the assets prior to maturity. Specifically, with respect to assessing effective control in such agreements, the criteria that the transferor must have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even upon the transferee's default, has been eliminated; as has the corresponding criterion calling for the transferor to have obtained cash or other sufficient collateral to purchase replacement assets from a third party, which was required to demonstrate such ability. This guidance is effective for the first interim or annual period beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In October 2010, the FASB issued guidance that specifies the accounting treatment for the costs incurred by insurance entities when acquiring new and renewal insurance contracts. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and should be applied prospectively upon adoption. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

(D) Subsequent Events

Subsequent events are events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. The Company has evaluated all such events occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date herein of September 30, 2011. The effects of all subsequent events that provided additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet, including estimates, if any, have been recognized in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as of and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure, and significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. May be provided in more than one note to the financial statements, as long as users are provided with an understanding of (1) the significant judgments and assumptions made by an enterprise in determining whether it must consolidate a VIE and/or disclose information about its involvement with a VIE, (2) the nature of restrictions on a consolidated VIE's assets reported by an enterprise in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets, (3) the nature of, and changes in, the risks associated with an enterprise's involvement with the VIE, and (4) how an enterprise's involvement with the VIE affects the enterprise's financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Describes procedure if disclosures are provided in more than one note to the financial statements.

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