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Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Options [Member]    
Summary of stock options' status, in shares [Roll Forward]    
Options outstanding, beginning of year (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
77,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options exercised (in shares) 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(62,500)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options canceled or expired (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(14,500)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options outstanding, end of year (in shares) 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options available for future grant (in shares) 1,651,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]    
Options outstanding, beginning of year (in dollars per share) $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 1.59us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options exercised (in dollars per share) $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 1.59us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options canceled or expired (in dollars per share) $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 1.59us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Options outstanding, end of year (in dollars per share) $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Plan 2012 [Member] | Stock Options [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Number of shares authorized for issuance (in shares) 2,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= aame_Plan2012Member
 
Plan 2012 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]    
Restricted shares issued (in shares) 148,500us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= aame_Plan2012Member
200,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= aame_Plan2012Member
Estimated fair value of shares issued $ 559us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualFairValueOfSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= aame_Plan2012Member
$ 704us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualFairValueOfSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= aame_Plan2012Member