Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]: Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member

Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan

		2017		2016		2015
IHC’s Share-based Compensation Plan:
Stock options	$	224	$	181	$	55
Restricted stock units		116		83		89
SARs		454		435		13
Share-based compensation expense, pre-tax		794		699		157
Tax benefits		316		279		63
Share-based compensation expense, net	$	478	$	420	$	94