Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Aug. 05, 2019
Details
Registrant Name	INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY
Registrant CIK	0000701869
SEC Form	10-Q
Period End date	Jun. 30, 2019
Fiscal Year End	--12-31
Trading Symbol	IHC
Tax Identification Number (TIN)	58-1407235
Number of common stock shares outstanding		14,892,668
Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Current with reporting	Yes
Small Business	true
Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32244
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
Entity Address, City or Town	STAMFORD
Entity Address, State or Province	CT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	06902
City Area Code	203
Local Phone Number	358-8000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1.00 par value
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2