INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Preferred Stock, shares issued	0	0
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common Stock, shares authorized	23,000,000	23,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	18,523,733	18,461,992
Common Stock, shares outstanding	17,660,390	17,932,954
Treasury Stock, shares	863,343	529,038