<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097196</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000701869</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>INDEPENDENCE HOLDING CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.8</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1135201</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (See Footnote 1)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196053</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (See Footnote 2)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2926810</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote 2</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are beneficially owned by Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. (&quot;MNL&quot;), which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person and MNL independently manage their respective portfolios.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are beneficially owned by Madison Investors Corporation, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person and Madison Investors Corporation independently manage their respective portfolios.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam C. Vandervoort, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-03-09
0
0000097196
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE CORP
AMIC
0000701869
INDEPENDENCE HOLDING CO
96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
STAMFORD
CT
06902
0
0
1
0
Common Stock
2010-03-09
4
P
0
3100
5.8
A
1135201
D
Common Stock (See Footnote 1)
196053
I
See Footnote 1
Common Stock (See Footnote 2)
2926810
I
See Footnote 2
These shares are beneficially owned by Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. ("MNL"), which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person and MNL independently manage their respective portfolios.
These shares are beneficially owned by Madison Investors Corporation, which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person.  The Reporting Person and Madison Investors Corporation independently manage their respective portfolios.
Adam C. Vandervoort, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
2010-03-11