Independence Holding Company (IHC) specializes in health and life insurance in the US. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Madison National Life Insurance and Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, it sells and reinsures health and life insurance to groups and individuals. Though it does offer some major medical plans, the company prefers to offer niche coverage such as medical stop-loss insurance (which allows employers to limit their exposure to high health insurance claims), short-term medical coverage, critical illness, small-group major medical, and pet insurance. Subsidiary American Independence also writes medical stop-loss insurance.