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	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance	692,380
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance	$ 16.62
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	13,000	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 31.30
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	6,600
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, Ending Balance	698,780
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance	$ 16.96