Note 9. Share-based Compensation (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Mar. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Modified Stock Options	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Mar. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Mar. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Restricted Stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Mar. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Dec. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities Member	Dec. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities Member	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Mar. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares	Mar. 31, 2013 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities Member	Dec. 31, 2012 Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member Performance Shares Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities Member	Mar. 31, 2013 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Mar. 31, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Dec. 31, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member	Mar. 31, 2013 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options	Mar. 31, 2012 American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member Stock Options
Share-based compensation expense, Value	$ 120	$ 470		$ 13	$ 61	$ 13	$ 9		$ 99	$ 393				$ (5)	$ 9			$ 8	$ 8		$ 8	$ 8
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense	48	188																3	3
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	358,901
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	693,836		192,500															208,951		227,285
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	2 years 7 months 6 days		5 years															3 years 1 month 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost			618
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period			2 years
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options	605																	39
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition 1				1 year 11 months 16 days		1 year 8 months 12 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number						13,200		13,200
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value						$ 9.37		$ 9.37
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options						83
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number									269,950		269,950
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted										44,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised									0	0
Deferred Compensation Share-based Arrangements, Liability, Current and Noncurrent												782	683			80	97
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Total Share Based Liabilities Paid														$ 12	$ 52
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures																		0	0