Note 10. Share-based Compensation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Sep. 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)	Sep. 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	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Sep. 30, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Sep. 30, 2011 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Sep. 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	Sep. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Sep. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Sep. 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	Sep. 30, 2011 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock
Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense	$ 153	$ 34	$ 770	$ 361	$ 56	$ 61	$ 177	$ 231	$ 13	$ 9	$ 31	$ 18	$ 60	$ (43)	$ 511	$ 82				$ 24	$ 8	$ 51	$ 29			$ 8	$ 9	$ 24	$ 34	$ 8	$ 9	$ 24	$ 27	$ 0		$ 7
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense	61	14	307	144																						3	3	9	12
Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance	379,819		379,819
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options	60		60																							56		56
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition 1			6 months								2 years 2 months 12 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period											7,425	6,750																							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	$ 9.84																							$ 6.92
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value											40	23
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options									109		109
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	103,950
Deferred Compensation Share-based Arrangements, Liability, Current and Noncurrent																		799	288					59	65
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Total Share Based Liabilities Paid																				57	53	57	53
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value																																	$ 3.02
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised																													57
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period																													13,611
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised																													$ 11