Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	May 15, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Independence Holding Company
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000701869
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,377,756
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Public Float			$ 131,292
Trading Symbol	ihc