INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Preferred Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred Stock, shares authorized	100,000	100,000
Preferred Stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred Stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common Stock, shares authorized	23,000,000	23,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	18,620,508	18,569,183
Common Stock, shares outstanding	17,102,525	17,265,758
Treasury Stock, shares	1,517,983	1,303,425