Note 9. Share-based Compensation: Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	693,836
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	501,336
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.36
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.12
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	$ 578
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	541
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	2 years 7 months 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 8 months 12 days
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	208,951	227,285
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	197,839
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.74	$ 11.40
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.10
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	65
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	$ 47
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	3 years 1 month 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 9 months 29 days