Note 10. Share-based Compensation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Dec. 31, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Other Liabilities	Dec. 31, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Other Liabilities	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Jun. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Jun. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares Other Liabilities	Dec. 31, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares Other Liabilities	Jun. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Jun. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2008 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Jun. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock
Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense	$ 147	$ 205	$ 617	$ 327	$ 60	$ 61	$ 121	$ 171	$ 9	$ 4	$ 18	$ 9	$ 58	$ 110	$ 451	$ 125				$ 18	$ 30	$ 27	$ 21			$ 8	$ 9	$ 16	$ 25	$ 8	$ 6	$ 16	$ 18	$ 3		$ 7
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense	59	82	246	130																						3	3	6	9
Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance	378,472		378,472
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options	121		121																							64		64
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition 1	0 years 6 months 0 days								2 years 4 months 24 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period											7,425																								12,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value											$ 9.39																								$ 6.92
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value											16	23
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options									122		122
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number													274,450		274,450		230,450
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted															44,000	98,600
Deferred Compensation Share-based Arrangements, Liability, Current and Noncurrent																		739	288					35	65
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Total Share Based Liabilities Paid																				57	47	57	47
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value																																	$ 3.24
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised																													48
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period																													11,389
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised																													$ 8