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, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense	$ 104	$ 0
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Net of Tax	208	1
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	312	1
Employee Stock Option | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	180	35
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	46	31
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 86	$ (65)