Note 19. Quarterly Data (unaudited): Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Details
TOTAL REVENUES	$ 78,871	$ 78,542	$ 77,696	$ 75,895	$ 124,602	$ 139,773	$ 133,015	$ 133,105	$ 311,004	$ 530,495	$ 530,348
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	7,753	4,366	4,495	5,896	3,892	14,159	5,222	4,701	22,510	27,974	15,021
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	892		142	109,770	1,255	729	(66)	630	110,804	2,548	1,900
Net income (loss)	8,645	4,366	4,637	115,666	5,147	14,888	5,156	5,331	133,314	30,522	16,921
(Income) loss from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(116)	(43)	(201)	(9,656)	(214)	(128)	(124)	(112)	(10,016)	(578)	(628)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC	$ 8,529	$ 4,323	$ 4,436	$ 106,010	$ 4,933	$ 14,760	$ 5,032	$ 5,219	$ 123,298	$ 29,944	$ 16,293
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	$ 0.45	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.34	$ 0.22	$ 0.81	$ 0.29	$ 0.27	$ 1.28	$ 1.59	$ 0.83
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	0.05	0.00	0.01	5.81	0.07	0.04	(0.00)	0.03	5.90	0.14	0.10
Basic income (loss) per common share	0.50	0.25	0.26	6.15	0.29	0.85	0.29	0.30	7.18	1.73	0.93
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	0.44	0.25	0.25	0.33	0.21	0.81	0.29	0.27	1.27	1.58	0.82
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	0.05	0.00	0.01	5.75	0.07	0.04	(0.00)	0.03	5.82	0.13	0.10
Diluted income (loss) per common share	$ 0.49	$ 0.25	$ 0.26	$ 6.08	$ 0.28	$ 0.85	$ 0.29	$ 0.30	$ 7.09	$ 1.71	$ 0.92