Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans [Text Block]: Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Independence Holding Company Share Based Plans Total Member

Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding

		December 31, 2017
		Outstanding		Exercisable
Number of options		692,380		388,713
Weighted average exercise price per share	$	16.62	$	10.55
Aggregate intrinsic value for all options (in thousands)	$	7,499	$	6,568
Weighted average contractual term remaining		2.8 years		1.4 years