Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]: Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan (Details) - Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 0	$ 180
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Net of Tax	1	271
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	1	451
Employee Stock Option | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	35	170
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	31	23
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ (65)	$ 258