Document and Entity Information - $ / shares	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Aug. 03, 2018
Details
Registrant Name	INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
Registrant CIK	0000701869
SEC Form	10-Q
Period End date	Jun. 30, 2018
Fiscal Year End	--12-31
Trading Symbol	IHC
Tax Identification Number (TIN)	581407235
Number of common stock shares outstanding		14,788,559
Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Current with reporting	Yes
Voluntary filer	No
Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Incorporation, State Country Name	Delaware
Entity Address, Address Line One	96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
Entity Address, City or Town	STAMFORD
Entity Address, State or Province	CONNECTICUT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	358-8000
Entity Listing, Par Value Per Share	$ 1.00

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