Name:	aame_AnnualizedPremiumForHealthInsurancePolicies
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Insurance benefits and losses incurred under long-duration contracts with respect to cash it must pay to policyholders upon their terminating, or surrendering, their insurance contracts.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_ChangeInCashSurrenderValueAndMaturedEndowments
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	aame_FuturePolicyBenefitsAbstract
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element includes the aggregate amount of policy reserves (provided for future obligations including unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses) and policy benefits (liability for future policy benefits) as of the balance sheet dates; and unearned premiums and other policy liabilities.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsAndUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseAndOtherPolicyholderFunds
Namespace Prefix:	aame_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of expense for claims incurred in the current reporting period and related claims settlement costs.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndAdjustmentExpenseToClaimsIncurredClaimsCurrentYear
Namespace Prefix:	aame_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of expense for claims incurred in prior reporting periods and related claims settlement costs.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndAdjustmentExpenseToClaimsIncurredClaimsPriorYears
Namespace Prefix:	aame_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The known and estimated amount that is recoverable on unpaid claims through reinsurance as of the end of the year.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseReinsuranceRecoverablesAddition
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The known and estimated amount that is recoverable on unpaid claims through reinsurance as of the beginning of the year.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseReinsuranceRecoverablesBeginningOfYear
Namespace Prefix:	aame_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Provision for benefits, claims and claims settlement expenses incurred before adjustments during the period net of the effects of contracts assumed and ceded.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredBeforeAdjustments
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	aame_ReservesForLifeAccidentAndHealthAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount needed to reflect the estimated ultimate cost of settling claims relating to insured events that have occurred on or before the balance sheet date, whether or not reported to the insurer at that date.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The assumed interest rate used to determine present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and related expenses less the present value of future net premiums using assumptions such as estimates of expected investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations and expenses, applicable at the time the insurance contracts are made and unpaid claim costs relating to insurance contracts including estimates of costs relating to incurred but not reported claims based on the estimated ultimate cost of settling the claims (including effects of inflation and other societal and economic factors), using past experience adjusted for current trends and any other factors that would modify past experience in the year the policy went into force.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Span of years during which policies were issued containing estimated present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and related expenses less the present value of future net premiums using assumptions such as estimates of expected investment yields, mortality, morbidity, terminations and expenses, applicable at the time the insurance contracts are made and unpaid claim costs relating to insurance contracts including estimates of costs relating to incurred but not reported claims based on the estimated ultimate cost of settling the claims (including effects of inflation and other societal and economic factors), using past experience adjusted for current trends and any other factors that would modify past experience.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitByProductSegmentPolicyIssueYearRange
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events for long-duration contracts.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 40
-Section 25
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28366191&loc=d3e13145-158430

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefits
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of expense (income) recognized due to changes in the accrued obligation to policyholders that relates to insured events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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-Section 50
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR)
-Number 403
-Paragraph 04
-Subparagraph b

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsPeriodExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of payments to settle claims incurred in the current period and related claims settlement costs.

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidCurrentYear1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of payments to settle claims incurred in prior periods and related claims settlement costs.

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseClaimsPaidPriorYears1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of expense for claims incurred and costs incurred in the claim settlement process.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseIncurredClaimsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Liability as of the balance sheet date for amounts representing estimated cost of settling unpaid claims under the terms of the underlying insurance policies, less estimated reinsurance recoveries on such claims. This includes an estimate for claims which have been incurred but not reported. Claim adjustment expenses represent the costs estimated to be incurred in the settlement of unpaid claims.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR)
-Number 403
-Paragraph 04
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Name:	us-gaap_LiabilityForUnpaidClaimsAndClaimsAdjustmentExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount after contracts ceded to other entities and contracts assumed by the entity of life insurance issued and outstanding. Includes, but not limited to, dividends and adjustments to face value.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34713774&loc=d3e574992-122915

Name:	us-gaap_LifeInsuranceInForceNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MovementInLiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Liability as of the balance sheet date to the policyholders for funds held that are returnable under the terms of insurance contracts that were not separately reported.

Name:	us-gaap_OtherPolicyholderFunds
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of payments to settle insured claims and pay costs incurred in the claims settlement process.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLossesAndLossAdjustmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount, after effects of policies assumed or ceded, of expense related to the provision for policy benefits and costs incurred.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.5)
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Name:	us-gaap_PolicyholderBenefitsAndClaimsIncurredNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Carrying amount of premiums written on insurance contracts that have not been earned as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),13(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 16
-Article 12

Name:	us-gaap_UnearnedPremiums
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=us-gaap_VariableLifeMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=us-gaap_UniversalLifeMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=us-gaap_VariableAnnuityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=us-gaap_LifeInsuranceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=us-gaap_AccidentAndHealthInsuranceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ReinsurancePremiumsForInsuranceCompaniesByProductSegmentAxis=aame_LifeAccidentAndHealthInsuranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=aame_Range1MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=aame_Range2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=aame_Range3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteedInsuranceContractTypeOfBenefitAxis=aame_Range4Member
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