Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]: Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity (Details) - Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member - Employee Stock Option - $ / shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	697,180
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.75
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	34,000	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 22.20
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	38,800
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.09
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number	692,380
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.41