Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Details 2) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)		$ 547,000	$ (4,025,000)	$ (1,220,000)	$ (2,236,000)	$ 1,419,000	$ 7,154,000	$ 1,306,000	$ 3,947,000	$ (6,934,000)	$ 13,826,000	$ 58,706,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations		4,000	(16,000)	(28,000)	(281,000)	(44,000)	(11,000)	(10,000)	(14,000)	(321,000)	(79,000)	(66,000)
Equity based compensation										8,675,000	7,787,000	18,180,000
Other items, net										4,550,000	7,620,000	14,737,000
Cash provided by (used in) continuing operations										(40,812,000)	22,319,000	(33,371,000)
Cash used in discontinued operations										(231,000)	(9,000)	(112,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities										(41,043,000)	22,310,000	(33,483,000)
Investing Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities										418,956,000	(539,000)	171,220,000
Financing Activities
Tax benefits from share-based compensation										0	(793,000)	(1,123,000)
Purchases of treasury stock										(10,563,000)	(10,597,000)	(9,718,000)
Proceeds from shares issued to officers, directors and agent plans										4,945,000	4,294,000	7,044,000
Payments of dividends to shareholders	(118,500,000)									0	0	(118,454,000)
Other financing activity										(78,000)	(77,000)	0
Net cash used in financing activities										(379,763,000)	(17,346,000)	(142,269,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents										(1,850,000)	4,425,000	(4,532,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					17,299,000				12,874,000	17,299,000	12,874,000	17,406,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period in continuing operations		15,449,000				17,299,000				15,449,000	17,299,000	12,874,000
Parent Company [Member]
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)										(6,934,000)	13,826,000	58,706,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations										0	0	0
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries of discontinued operations										(321,000)	(79,000)	(66,000)
Deficit (equity) in undistributed earnings of continuing operations										59,438,000	(24,225,000)	31,897,000
Equity based compensation										3,630,000	4,472,000	16,438,000
Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities										(1,834,000)	(3,457,000)	(5,116,000)
Change in deferred income tax										(6,530,000)	4,281,000	1,276,000
Change in federal income tax refundable										3,568,000	7,580,000	4,606,000
Other items, net										16,000	28,000	8,012,000
Cash provided by (used in) continuing operations										51,033,000	2,426,000	115,753,000
Cash used in discontinued operations										(231,000)	(9,000)	(178,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities										50,802,000	2,417,000	115,575,000
Investing Activities
Sales, maturities, calls and redemptions of securities available for sale										0	0	8,000,000
Increase in investments in and advances to subsidiaries										(46,047,000)	11,829,000	41,453,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities										(46,047,000)	11,829,000	49,453,000
Financing Activities
Tax benefits from share-based compensation										0	(793,000)	(1,123,000)
Purchases of treasury stock										(10,563,000)	(10,597,000)	(9,718,000)
Proceeds from shares issued to officers, directors and agent plans										4,945,000	4,294,000	7,044,000
Payments of dividends to shareholders										0	0	(118,454,000)
Other financing activity										(79,000)	(77,000)	0
Net cash used in financing activities										(5,697,000)	(7,173,000)	(122,251,000)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents										(942,000)	7,073,000	42,777,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					74,244,000				67,171,000	74,244,000	67,171,000	24,394,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period in continuing operations		$ 73,302,000				$ 74,244,000				$ 73,302,000	$ 74,244,000	$ 67,171,000

HealthMarkets, Inc. 10-K