Note 8. 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
	Jun. 30, 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	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	$ 1,711
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	1,359
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	2 years 4 months 24 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	222,285	227,285
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	202,284
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.46	$ 11.40
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.95
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	62
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	$ 53
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	3 years 3 months 11 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 8 months 5 days