Note 10. Share-based Compensation: Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	728,669	758,714
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	563,009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.38	$ 9.71
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.47
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	$ 511
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	349
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	1 year 8 months 12 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 6 months
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	317,288	333,956
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	299,509
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 10.40	$ 10.43
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 10.70
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	4
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	$ 2
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	2 years 5 months 5 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 29 days