Note 13. Share-based Compensation: Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	369,861
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	584,080	614,680
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	6,490,553
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	71,558	166,616
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number	62,669
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	4 years

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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The number of shares into which fully or partially vested stock options outstanding as of the balance sheet date can be currently converted under the option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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