Dividends (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Dividends
Dividends paid to parent, GWL&A Financial	$ 44,435	$ 51,600

This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries, by unconsolidated subsidiaries, and by 50% or less owned persons accounted for using the equity method.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e24072-122690

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 235

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-06)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882215&loc=d3e537971-122884

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 06

-Article 9

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph b

-Article 12

Name:	us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration