Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure: Condensed Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Net investment income									$ 16,570	$ 17,237	$ 21,614
Net realized investment gains									4,502	3,094	7,688
Other income									12,257	10,267	4,851
TOTAL REVENUES	$ 78,871	$ 78,542	$ 77,696	$ 75,895	$ 124,602	$ 139,773	$ 133,015	$ 133,105	311,004	530,495	530,348
Interest expense on debt									1,534	1,798	1,797
TOTAL EXPENSES									278,939	486,617	509,219
Equity income from equity method investments									62	405	1,106
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									32,065	43,878	21,129
Income taxes (benefits)									9,555	15,904	6,108
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, before income taxes									117,617	4,310	2,183
Income taxes (benefits) on discontinued operations									6,813	1,762	283
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
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax									(3,508)	(3,462)	10,693
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(3,508)	(3,462)	10,693
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									129,806	27,060	27,614
Comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests									(10,134)	(583)	(827)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to IHC									119,672	26,477	26,787
Parent Company
Net investment income									146	112	112
Net realized investment gains									(121)	(506)	(78)
Other income									1,619	1,800	2,129
TOTAL REVENUES									1,644	1,406	2,163
Interest expense on debt									1,443	1,567	1,546
General and Administrative Expense									8,837	5,506	5,606
TOTAL EXPENSES									10,280	7,073	7,152
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest									(8,636)	(5,667)	(4,989)
Equity income from equity method investments									28,843	32,118	17,564
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									20,207	26,451	12,575
Income taxes (benefits)									(2,303)	(1,523)	(2,446)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax									22,510	27,974	15,021
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, before income taxes									117,617	4,310	2,183
Income taxes (benefits) on discontinued operations									6,813	1,762	283
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									110,804	2,548	1,900
Net income (loss)									133,314	30,522	16,921
(Income) loss from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries									(10,016)	(578)	(628)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC									123,298	29,944	16,293
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax									114	(51)	16
Equity in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities of subsidiaries									(3,622)	(3,411)	10,677
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(3,508)	(3,462)	10,693
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									129,806	27,060	27,614
Comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests									(10,134)	(583)	(827)
Comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, attributable to IHC									$ 119,672	$ 26,477	$ 26,787