Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Notes
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies	`Note 1.` `Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies` `(A)Business and Organization` Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“IHC”), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life"), Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"), and Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc., IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc. and a majority interest in PetPartners, Inc. IHC also owns a significant equity interest in Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), an administration exchange for health insurance. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”. `Geneve Corporation, a diversified financial holding company, and its affiliated entities, held approximately 61% of IHC's outstanding common stock at December 31, 2018.` `(B)`Basis of Presentation The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. `(C)Reclassifications` Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation primarily as a result of new accounting principles adopted in the current year. `(D)` Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value, and include principally interest-bearing deposits at brokers, money market instruments and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities of less than 91 days. Investments with original maturities of 91 days to one year are considered short-term investments and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. `(E)` Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell Securities purchased under agreements to resell ("resale agreements") are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold as specified in the agreements. Resale agreements are utilized to invest excess funds on a short-term basis. At December 31, 2018, the Company had $12,063,000 invested in resale agreements, all of which settled on January 2, 2019 and were subsequently reinvested. The Company maintains control of securities purchased under resale agreements, values the collateral on a daily basis (102% is required) and obtains additional collateral, if necessary, to protect the Company in the event of default by the counterparties. (v) The Company reviews its investment securities regularly and determines whether other-than-temporary impairments have occurred. The factors considered by management in its regular review to identify and recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities include, but are not limited to: the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the Company's intent to sell, or be required to sell, the debt security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; adverse changes in ratings announced by one or more rating agencies; subordinated credit support; whether the issuer of a debt security has remained current on principal and interest payments; current expected cash flows; whether the decline in fair value appears to be issuer specific or, alternatively, a reflection of general market or industry Other investments also include equity investments without readily determinable fair values which are carried at their cost minus impairment, if any. Impairment indicators the Company may consider in its evaluation of whether an impairment exists include, but are not limited to: (i) significant deterioration in earnings or performance of the investee; (ii) significant adverse changes in market, regulatory or economic conditions; (iii) a bona fide offer to purchase, or an offer by the investee to sell, for an amount less than the All of the Company’s short-duration contracts are generated from its accident, health, disability and pet insurance business, and are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the amount of loss inherent in that period’s claims, including losses incurred for which claims have not been reported. Short-duration Policy benefits and claims for the Company’s group disability products are developed using actuarial principles and assumptions that consider, among other things, future offsets and recoveries, elimination periods, interest rates, probability of rehabilitation or mortality, incidence and termination rates based on the Company’s experience. The liability for policy benefits and claims is made up of case reserves, IBNR and reopen reserves and Loss Adjustment Expenses (“LAE”). IBNR and reopen reserves are calculated by a hind-sight study, which takes historical experience and develops the reserve as a percentage of premiums from prior years. The two “primary” assumptions on which group disability reserves are based are: (i) morbidity levels; and (ii) recovery rates. If morbidity levels increase, for example due to an epidemic or a recessionary environment, the Company would increase reserves because there would be more new claims than expected. In regard to the assumed recovery rate, if disabled lives recover more quickly than anticipated then the existing claims reserves would be reduced; if less quickly, the existing claims reserves would be increased. Due to the long-term nature of LTD, in establishing the liability for policy benefits and claims, the Company must make estimates for case reserves, IBNR, and reserves for LAE. Case reserves generally equal the actuarial present value of the liability for future benefits to be paid on claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The IBNR reserve is established based upon historical trends of existing incurred claims that were reported after the balance sheet date. The LAE reserve is calculated based on an actuarial expense study. There have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year. Future Policy Benefits The liability for future policy benefits consists of the liabilities related to insured events for the Company’s long-duration contracts, primarily its life and annuity products. For traditional life insurance products, the Company computes the liability for future policy benefits primarily using the net premium method based on anticipated investment yield, mortality, and withdrawals. These methods are widely used in the life insurance industry to estimate the liabilities for future policy benefits. Inherent in these calculations are management and actuarial judgments and estimates that could significantly impact the ending reserve liabilities and, consequently, operating results. Actual results may differ, and these estimates are subject to interpretation and change. Management believes that the Company's methods of estimating the liabilities for future policy benefits provided appropriate levels of reserves at December 31, 2018. Changes in the Company's future policy benefits estimates are recorded through a charge or credit to its earnings. Funds on Deposit Funds received (net of mortality and expense charges) for certain long-duration contracts (principally deferred annuities and universal life policies) are credited directly to a policyholder liability account, funds on deposit. Withdrawals are recorded directly as a reduction of respective policyholders' funds on deposit. Amounts on deposit were credited at annual rates ranging from 3.0% to 6.0% in both 2018 and 2017. Other Policyholders’ Funds Other policyholders’ funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sale of products, such as universal life, interest-sensitive life and annuities. Policyholder funds are primarily comprised of deposits received and interest credited to the benefit of the policyholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses. Annuities and interest-sensitive life contracts, such as universal life and interest sensitive whole life, are contracts whose terms are not fixed and guaranteed. Premiums from these policies are reported as funds on deposit. Policy charges consist of fees assessed against the policyholder for cost of insurance In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring entities to show the changes in the total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this guidance were applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Statements of Cash Flows and had no effect on the Company’s In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve existing measurements, presentation and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by insurance entities. The amendments in this guidance requires an entity to (1) review and update assumptions used to measure cash flows at least annually as well as update the discount rate assumption at each reporting date; (2) measure market risk In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected with changes in the allowance recorded in earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than the currently applied U.S. GAAP method of taking a permanent impairment of the security, which would be limited to the amount by which fair value is below the amortized cost. Certain existing requirements used to evaluate credit losses have been removed. For public entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments in this guidance should be applied through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases, on the statement of financial position. The amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In July 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance that allows entities the option to either recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption or to use a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of analyzing its lease portfolio. This process includes the evaluation of policies, processes and internal controls that will be required to comply with this new guidance. The Company plans to elect the practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carryforward the historical lease classification. In addition, the Company plans to select the new transition method and apply the new lease requirements in the period of adoption without adjustment to the financial statements for periods prior to adoption. The Company expects the adoption of this new standard to result in an increase on its consolidated balance sheet for right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows.

Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies

Note 1. Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

(A)Business and Organization

Independence Holding Company, a Delaware corporation (“IHC”), is a holding company principally engaged in the life and health insurance business through: (i) its insurance companies, Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York ("Standard Security Life"), Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("Madison National Life"), and Independence American Insurance Company (“Independence American”); and (ii) its marketing and administrative companies, including IHC Specialty Benefits Inc., IHC Carrier Solutions, Inc. and a majority interest in PetPartners, Inc. IHC also owns a significant equity interest in Ebix Health Exchange Holdings, LLC (“Ebix Health Exchange”), an administration exchange for health insurance. Standard Security Life, Madison National Life and Independence American are sometimes collectively referred to as the “Insurance Group”. IHC and its subsidiaries (including the Insurance Group) are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Company", or “IHC”, or are implicit in the terms “we”, “us” and “our”.

Geneve Corporation, a diversified financial holding company, and its affiliated entities, held approximately 61% of IHC's outstanding common stock at December 31, 2018.

(B)Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of IHC and its consolidated subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect: (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (ii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(C)Reclassifications

Certain amounts in prior year’s consolidated financial statements and Notes thereto have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation primarily as a result of new accounting principles adopted in the current year.

(D) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

Cash equivalents are carried at cost which approximates fair value, and include principally interest-bearing deposits at brokers, money market instruments and U.S. Treasury securities with original maturities of less than 91 days. Investments with original maturities of 91 days to one year are considered short-term investments and are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

(E) Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell ("resale agreements") are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold as specified in the agreements. Resale agreements are utilized to invest excess funds on a short-term basis. At December 31, 2018, the Company had $12,063,000 invested in resale agreements, all of which settled on January 2, 2019 and were subsequently reinvested. The Company maintains control of securities purchased under resale agreements, values the collateral on a daily basis (102% is required) and obtains additional collateral, if necessary, to protect the Company in the event of default by the counterparties.

(v) The Company reviews its investment securities regularly and determines whether other-than-temporary impairments have occurred. The factors considered by management in its regular review to identify and recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses on fixed maturities include, but are not limited to: the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost; the Company's intent to sell, or be required to sell, the debt security before the anticipated recovery of its remaining amortized cost basis; the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer; adverse changes in ratings announced by one or more rating agencies; subordinated credit support; whether the issuer of a debt security has remained current on principal and interest payments; current expected cash flows; whether the decline in fair value appears to be issuer specific or, alternatively, a reflection of general market or industry Other investments also include equity investments without readily determinable fair values which are carried at their cost minus impairment, if any. Impairment indicators the Company may consider in its evaluation of whether an impairment exists include, but are not limited to: (i) significant deterioration in earnings or performance of the investee; (ii) significant adverse changes in market, regulatory or economic conditions; (iii) a bona fide offer to purchase, or an offer by the investee to sell, for an amount less than the All of the Company’s short-duration contracts are generated from its accident, health, disability and pet insurance business, and are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the amount of loss inherent in that period’s claims, including losses incurred for which claims have not been reported. Short-duration Policy benefits and claims for the Company’s group disability products are developed using actuarial principles and assumptions that consider, among other things, future offsets and recoveries,

elimination periods, interest rates, probability of rehabilitation or mortality, incidence and termination rates based on the Company’s experience. The liability for policy benefits and claims is made up of case reserves, IBNR and reopen reserves and Loss Adjustment Expenses (“LAE”). IBNR and reopen reserves are calculated by a hind-sight study, which takes historical experience and develops the reserve as a percentage of premiums from prior years.

The two “primary” assumptions on which group disability reserves are based are: (i) morbidity levels; and (ii) recovery rates. If morbidity levels increase, for example due to an epidemic or a recessionary environment, the Company would increase reserves because there would be more new claims than expected. In regard to the assumed recovery rate, if disabled lives recover more quickly than anticipated then the existing claims reserves would be reduced; if less quickly, the existing claims reserves would be increased.

Due to the long-term nature of LTD, in establishing the liability for policy benefits and claims, the Company must make estimates for case reserves, IBNR, and reserves for LAE. Case reserves generally equal the actuarial present value of the liability for future benefits to be paid on claims incurred as of the balance sheet date. The IBNR reserve is established based upon historical trends of existing incurred claims that were reported after the balance sheet date. The LAE reserve is calculated based on an actuarial expense study. There have been no significant changes to methodologies and assumptions from the prior year.

Future Policy Benefits

The liability for future policy benefits consists of the liabilities related to insured events for the Company’s long-duration contracts, primarily its life and annuity products. For traditional life insurance products, the Company computes the liability for future policy benefits primarily using the net premium method based on anticipated investment yield, mortality, and withdrawals. These methods are widely used in the life insurance industry to estimate the liabilities for future policy benefits. Inherent in these calculations are management and actuarial judgments and estimates that could significantly impact the ending reserve liabilities and, consequently, operating results. Actual results may differ, and these estimates are subject to interpretation and change.

Management believes that the Company's methods of estimating the liabilities for future policy benefits provided appropriate levels of reserves at December 31, 2018. Changes in the Company's future policy benefits estimates are recorded through a charge or credit to its earnings.

Funds on Deposit

Funds received (net of mortality and expense charges) for certain long-duration contracts (principally deferred annuities and universal life policies) are credited directly to a policyholder liability account, funds on deposit. Withdrawals are recorded directly as a reduction of respective policyholders' funds on deposit. Amounts on deposit were credited at annual rates ranging from 3.0% to 6.0% in both 2018 and 2017.

Other Policyholders’ Funds

Other policyholders’ funds represent interest-bearing liabilities arising from the sale of products, such as universal life, interest-sensitive life and annuities. Policyholder funds are primarily comprised of deposits received and interest credited to the benefit of the policyholder less surrenders and withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses.

Annuities and interest-sensitive life contracts, such as universal life and interest sensitive whole life, are contracts whose terms are not fixed and guaranteed. Premiums from these policies are reported as funds on deposit. Policy charges consist of fees assessed against the policyholder for cost of insurance In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring entities to show the changes in the total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this guidance were applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s Statements of Cash Flows and had no effect on the Company’s In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance to improve existing measurements, presentation and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by insurance entities. The amendments in this guidance requires an entity to (1) review and update assumptions used to measure cash flows at least annually as well as update the discount rate assumption at each reporting date; (2) measure market risk In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. An allowance for credit losses will be deducted from the amortized cost basis to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected with changes in the allowance recorded in earnings. Credit losses relating to available-for-sale debt securities will also be recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than the currently applied U.S. GAAP method of taking a permanent impairment of the security, which would be limited to the amount by which fair value is below the amortized cost. Certain existing requirements used to evaluate credit losses have been removed. For public entities that are SEC filers, the amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments in this guidance should be applied through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings upon adoption as of the

beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. Management is evaluating the requirements and potential impact that the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases, including operating leases, on the statement of financial position. The amendments in this guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In July 2018, the FASB issued additional guidance that allows entities the option to either recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption or to use a modified retrospective approach. The Company is in the process of analyzing its lease portfolio. This process includes the evaluation of policies, processes and internal controls that will be required to comply with this new guidance. The Company plans to elect the practical expedients permitted within the new standard, which among other things, allows us to carryforward the historical lease classification. In addition, the Company plans to select the new transition method and apply the new lease requirements in the period of adoption without adjustment to the financial statements for periods prior to adoption. The Company expects the adoption of this new standard to result in an increase on its consolidated balance sheet for right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or cash flows.