INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income (loss)	$ 30,522	$ 16,921	$ 15,256
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(5,546)	15,389	(38,439)
Tax (benefit) on unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(2,041)	4,768	(12,252)
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(3,505)	10,621	(26,187)
Cash flow hedge:
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedge, pre-tax	71	120	159
Tax (benefit) on unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedge	28	48	63
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedge, net of taxes	43	72	96
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,462)	10,693	(26,091)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	27,060	27,614	(10,835)
Comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests:
(Income) loss from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(578)	(628)	(1,477)
Other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net unrealized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	(199)	665
Other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	(199)	665
Comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests	(583)	(827)	(812)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to IHC	$ 26,477	$ 26,787	$ (11,647)