Benefit Plans, Share-based Compensation Stock Option by Exercise Price Range (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
401(k) Plan [Abstract]
Maximum percentage of compensation employees may defer	50.00%
Total matching contribution	$ 223	$ 212
Employer maximum contribution to plan	35.00%	35.00%
Percentage of participants contribution	6.00%	6.00%
Safe harbor non-elective contribution	3.00%	3.00%
Safe harbor non-elective contribution	$ 433	$ 416

The percentage safe harbor non-elective contribution.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

The safe harbor non-elective contribution during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	aame_SafeHarborNonElectiveContributionExpense
Namespace Prefix:	aame_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Amount of discretionary contributions made by an employer to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

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

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Percentage employer matches of the employee's percentage contribution matched.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Maximum percentage of employee gross pay the employee may contribute to a defined contribution plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration