Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=96867065&loc=d3e5070-113901

Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block] (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant \| shares	1,133,100
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 0	$ 180
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 1	451
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options	$ 370
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition 1	2 years 8 months 12 days
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 35	170
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Number \| shares	64,900		71,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised \| shares	6,600
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Share-based Liabilities Paid	$ 64
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	(65)	258
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Deferred Compensation Share-based Arrangements, Liability, Current and Noncurrent	$ 747		$ 876
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	10 years
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition 1	1 year 10 months 24 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number \| shares	17,325		17,325
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	$ 16.20		$ 16.20
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Share-based Awards Other than Options	$ 204
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 31	$ 23
Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member \| Modified Stock Option Awards Member
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Number of Employees Affected		13
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Plan Modification, Incremental Compensation Cost		$ 170
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense		4
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member \| Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		7
American Independence Corp Share Based Plans Total Member \| Employee Stock Option
Proceeds and Excess Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation		$ 145