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
	Sep. 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	620,158	693,836
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number	455,158
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.35	$ 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	$ 3,058
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	2,351
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	2 years 1 month 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 2 months 12 days
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	203,395
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	$ 11.91
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value	236
Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1	$ 173
Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2	3 years 7 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 5 months 16 days