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	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Beginning Balance | shares	692,380
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance | $ / shares	$ 16.62
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross | shares	13,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares	$ 31.30
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period | shares	36,433
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price | $ / shares	$ 9.79
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance | shares	668,947
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance | $ / shares	$ 17.28