INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
REVENUES:
Premiums earned	$ 262,704	$ 479,534	$ 479,048
Net investment income	16,570	17,237	21,614
Fee income	16,446	10,651	17,147
Other income	12,257	10,267	4,851
Gain on sale of subsidiary to joint venture		9,940
Net realized investment gains	4,502	3,094	7,688
Other-than-temporary impairment losses:
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses	(1,475)	(228)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(1,475)	(228)	0
TOTAL REVENUES	311,004	530,495	530,348
EXPENSES:
Insurance benefits, claims and reserves	145,231	307,178	326,035
Selling, general and administrative expenses	132,174	177,641	181,387
Interest expense on debt	1,534	1,798	1,797
TOTAL EXPENSES	278,939	486,617	509,219
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	22,510	27,974	15,021
Discontinued operations: (Note 3)
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
Basic income per common share: (Note 2)
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.28	$ 1.59	$ 0.83
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	5.90	0.14	0.10
Basic income (loss) per common share	$ 7.18	$ 1.73	$ 0.93
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING	17,162	17,314	17,471
Diluted income per common share: (Note 2)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.27	$ 1.58	$ 0.82
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations	5.82	0.13	0.10
Diluted income (loss) per common share	$ 7.09	$ 1.71	$ 0.92
WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING	17,379	17,484	17,636