2.4.0.84041 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions (Details 2)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000744455duration2013-04-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000744455duration2012-04-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$D2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000744455duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000744455duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5false USDtruefalse$D2013Q1_M0102_CanadaLifeAssuranceCompanyMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000744455duration2013-01-03T00:00:002013-01-04T00:00:00falsefalseThe Canada Life Assurance Companyus-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldigac_CanadaLifeAssuranceCompanyMemberus-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 4us-gaap_RevenuesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsepositiveTerseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Revenues2false 5us-gaap_PremiumsEarnedNetus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse6635700066357USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse7539100075391USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse244678000244678USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse203478000203478USD$falsetruefalse5truefalsefalse4229700042297USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPremiums earned on the income statement for all insurance and reinsurance contracts after subtracting any amounts ceded to another insurer and adding premiums assumed from other insurers.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 1 -Article 7 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 113 -Paragraph 27 -Subparagraph a, b -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 false2Premium income3false 5us-gaap_OtherIncomeus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse73550007355falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse73550007355falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the sum of all other revenue and income recognized by the entity in the period not otherwise specified in the income statement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 4 -Article 7 false2Other revenue4false 5us-gaap_Revenuesus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse527873000527873falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse535262000535262falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse11813400001181340falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse11053010001105301falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse4965200049652falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Article 5 true2Total revenues5true 4us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpensesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Benefits and expenses:6false 5us-gaap_LiabilityForFuturePolicyBenefitsPeriodExpenseus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse-32985000-32985falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-57657000-57657falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1228600012286falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-58288000-58288falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse4129700041297falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncreases and decreases to the future policy benefit reserve based on changes in actuarial calculations, catastrophes, historical results and any other factors that influence the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Financial Reporting Release (FRR) -Number 403 -Paragraph 04 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6482485&loc=d3e14764-158437 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-LHI -Paragraph 27, 28 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -Chapter 9 -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. false2Increase (decrease) in future policy benefits7false 5us-gaap_PolicyholderDividendsus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse1286800012868falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1177500011775falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3472000034720falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse3272500032725falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse10000001000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryDividends paid or that became payable to policyholders in the period based upon the insurer's obligations under the policies and contracts in force.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 120 -Paragraph 5, 6 -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 944 -SubTopic 50 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6483535&loc=d3e16392-158451 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.6) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 6 -Article 7 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 95-1 -Paragraph 14-18 -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 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 60 -Paragraph 41, 42, 43 -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. false2Dividends to policyholders8false 5us-gaap_BenefitsLossesAndExpensesus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1truefalsefalse464086000464086falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse441619000441619falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse10015710001001571falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse936304000936304falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse4229700042297falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total amount of expense recognized during the period for future policy benefits, claims and claims adjustment costs, and for selling, general and administrative costs.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.5,6,7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph 5, 6, 7 -Article 7 true2Total benefits and expenses, net9false 5us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse6378700063787falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9364300093643falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse179769000179769falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse168997000168997falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse73550007355falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Subparagraph 1(i) -Article 4 false2Participating policyholders' net income before income taxes10false 5us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitus-gaap_truedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse2037400020374falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3259500032595falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse6212900062129falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse5695500056955falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse25740002574falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the current income tax expense or benefit and the deferred income tax expense or benefit pertaining to continuing operations.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515339 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a),(b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a, b -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. false2Income tax expense11false 5us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestus-gaap_truecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotalLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse47810004781falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 -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 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) -Number 51 -Paragraph 29 -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. true2Participating policyholders' income12false 5gac_ProvisionBenefitForPolicyholdersShareOfEarningsOnParticipatingBusinessgac_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse-483000-483USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse558000558USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse44960004496USD$falsetruefalse4truefalsefalse21880002188USD$falsetruefalse5truefalsefalse47810004781USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEarnings allocated (not distributed) for policyholders' share of earning on participating businessNo definition available.false2Provision for policyholders' share of earnings on participating businessfalseRelated Party Transactions (Details 2) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.greatwest.com/role/DisclosureRelatedPartyTransactionsDetails2512