Income Taxes (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Tax receivable
Income taxes receivable in other assets primarily related to the separate state income tax returns filed by certain subsidiaries	$ 12,585	$ 9,019
Great-West Lifeco U.S. Inc.
Tax credit carryforwards
Income taxes receivable from Lifeco	4,353	115,300
Investments in low-income housing
Tax credit carryforwards
Guaranteed Federal low Income Housing tax credit carryforwards generated	30,965	34,020
Total credit carryforward	$ 100,670

The amount of the tax credit carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Carryforwards

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6506874

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 48

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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