INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Preferred Stock, shares issued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued	0us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common Stock, shares authorized	23,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized	23,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common Stock, shares issued	18,531,158us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued	18,523,733us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Common Stock, shares outstanding	17,371,040us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding	17,660,390us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding
Treasury Stock, shares	1,160,118us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares	863,343us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

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The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury.

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Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Number 210

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt.

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Number of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.

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