Income Taxes Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 17,268	$ 23,093	$ 26,890	$ 21,154
Decreases in interest and penalties	153	193	2,916
Accrued amount for interest and penalties	864	1,017
Investment assets	233,583	221,303
Income taxes receivable in other assets primarily related to the separate state income tax returns filed by certain subsidiaries	7,819	7,721
Federal Low Income Housing tax credit carryforward
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Guaranteed Federal low Income Housing tax credit carryforwards generated	215	3,295	$ 15,506
Total credit carryforward	143,105
Foreign investment tax credit carryforward
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Guaranteed Federal low Income Housing tax credit carryforwards generated	4,286
Total credit carryforward		21,025
Great West Lifeco US Inc
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income taxes receivable from Lifeco	35,093	11,790
Available-for-sale Securities
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Investment assets	$ 172,405	$ 171,780