Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Great-West Lifeco U.S. Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Great-West Lifeco U.S. Inc.	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 GWL&A Financial Inc.	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note	Dec. 31, 2011 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note	Dec. 31, 2010 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, November 2034	Dec. 31, 2011 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, November 2034	Nov. 15, 2004 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, November 2034	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, May 2046	Dec. 31, 2011 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, May 2046	May 19, 2006 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, May 2046	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, May 2046 Until May 16, 2016	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Surplus note, May 2046 After May 16, 2016	Dec. 31, 2012 GWL&A Financial Inc. Note interest, May 2013	Dec. 31, 2011 GWL&A Financial Inc. Note interest, May 2013	Dec. 31, 2012 Great-West Lifeco Finance LP	Dec. 31, 2011 Great-West Lifeco Finance LP	Dec. 31, 2012 Great-West Lifeco Finance LP II	Dec. 31, 2011 Great-West Lifeco Finance LP II	Dec. 31, 2012 Other related party	Dec. 31, 2011 Other related party	Dec. 31, 2011 Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Capital (Nova Scotia) Co. II	Dec. 31, 2012 London Life Financial Corporation	Dec. 31, 2011 London Life Financial Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012 The Great-West Life Assurance Company	Dec. 31, 2011 The Great-West Life Assurance Company	Dec. 31, 2012 The Canada Life Assurance Company	Dec. 31, 2011 The Canada Life Assurance Company
Related Party Transactions
Reinsurance receivable	$ 533,446	$ 502,093
Future policy benefits	1,990,579	2,115,676
Premium income, net of related party premiums ceded	96,439	129,072	131,037
Life and other policy benefits, net of reinsurance recoveries	99,321	106,790	122,830
Decrease in future policy benefits	(39,439)	(70,554)	(65,778)
Related party premiums ceded	18,112	6,912	3,588
Reinsurance recoveries	12,562	6,426	4,906
Revenue, expenses incurred and expense reimbursement from related parties for services provided
Investment management and administrative revenue included in fee income and net investment income	7,770	7,492	7,505
Administrative and underwriting expense reimbursements included as a reduction to general insurance expense	1,698	3,629	988
Administrative and underwriting expense included in general insurance expense	(2,610)
Total	6,858	11,121	8,493
Related party transactions
Due from parent and affiliates	82,828	114,697		62,350	105,614	17,236	6,976														695	716	619	524	1,928	867
Due to parent and affiliates	544,447	538,561									194,390	194,362		333,400	333,400				4,701	4,701							140	1,735	1,715	2,568	1,765	7,653	2,478
Face amount													195,000			333,400
Interest rate (as a percent)											6.675%						7.203%
Variable rate basis																		three-month London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR")
Margin added to variable rate basis (as a percent)																		2.588%
Minimum multiple required to be applied on authorized control level at the time of payments of principal and interest								2.5
Interest expense attributable to related party debt obligations								37,059	37,163	37,042
Interest payable						$ 1,086,224		$ 4,701	$ 4,701