| **Related Party Transactions**            | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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| **Related Party Transactions [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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| Related Party Transactions                | Related Party Transactions In the normal course of its business, the Company enters into reinsurance agreements with related parties. Included in the consolidated balance sheets are the following amounts related to reinsurance ceded to and assumed from related parties:   December 31,  2014 2013Reinsurance receivable $529,921 $502,471Future policy benefits 1,812,077 1,887,182Included in the consolidated statements of income are the following related party amounts:   Year Ended December 31,  2014 2013 2012Premium income, net of related party premiums ceded of $13,901, $(30,114) and $18,112 $71,453 $137,785 $85,873Life and other policy benefits, net of reinsurance recoveries of $4,594, $(536) and $12,562 209,102 216,809 215,880Decrease in future policy benefits (46,915) (2,556) (39,439) In the normal course of business the Company enters into agreements with related parties whereby it provides and/or receives record-keeping services, investment advisory services, and tax-related services, as well as corporate support services which include general and administrative services, information technology services, and marketing services.   The following table presents revenue, expenses incurred and expense reimbursement from related parties for services provided and/or received pursuant to these service agreements. These amounts, in accordance with the terms of the contracts, are based upon market price, estimated costs incurred or resources expended as determined by number of policies, number of participants, certificates in-force, administered assets or other similar drivers.     Year Ended December 31, Financial statement lineDescription Related party 2014 2013 2012 Provides corporate support service The Canada Life Assurance Company (“CLAC”) (1), Great-West Life Assurance Company (“Great-West Life”) (1), MAM Holding Inc. (1) and Putnam (2) $(2,055) $(1,971) $(1,698) General insurance expenseReceives corporate support services CLAC (1), Great-West Life (1) and  Putnam (2) 4,053 2,556 2,610 General insurance expenseProvides investment advisory and administrative services to U.S. branches of Lifeco insurance subsidiaries CLAC (1) and Great-West Life (1)  1,803 2,586 2,929 Net investment incomeProvides investment advisory and administrative services to Canadian subsidiaries of of Lifeco CLAC (1), Great-West Life (1) and London Life Financial Corporation (“London Life”) (1) 3,912 4,487 4,841 Fee incomeProvides record-keeping services CLAC (1) and Putnam (2) 13,956 10,625 7,677 Fee incomeProvides U.S. tax services London Life (1), LRG (US) Inc. (1), Putnam (2), Thomas H. Lee Partners L.P. (1) and CLAC (1) (402) (361) (352) General insurance expenseReceives reimbursement from tax sharing indemnification related to state and local tax liabilities Putnam (2) 7,506 — — Other revenue  — 8,114 6,206 Fee incomeReceived internally developed internal use software Putnam (2) 1,008 — — Other assets(1) An indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeco(2) A wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeco U.S. The following table summarizes amounts due from parent and affiliates:       December 31,Related party Indebtedness Due date 2014 2013GWL&A Financial On account On demand $32,572 $23,396Lifeco U.S. On account On demand 13,369 64,786Other related party receivables On account On demand 1,252 2,875Total     $47,193 $91,057 The following table summarizes amounts due to parent and affiliates:       December 31,Related party Indebtedness Due date 2014 2013GWL&A Financial (1) Surplus note November 2034 $194,446 $194,418GWL&A Financial (2) Surplus note May 2046 333,400 333,400GWL&A Financial Note interest May 2014 4,701 4,701Putnam On account On demand 7,257 —CLAC On account On demand 3,986 6,038Great-West Life On account On demand 1,739 1,514London Life On account On demand 1,737 1,722Total     $547,266 $541,793 (1) A note payable to GWL&A Financial was issued as a surplus note on November 15, 2004, with a face amount of $195,000 and carrying amounts of $194,446 and $194,418 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  The surplus note bears interest at the rate of 6.675% per annum, payable in arrears each May and November.  The note matures on November 14, 2034.(2) A note payable to GWL&A Financial was issued as a surplus note on May 19, 2006, with a face amount and carrying amount of $333,400.  The surplus note bears interest initially at the rate of 7.203% per annum, payable in arrears each May and November until May 16, 2016.  After May 16, 2016, the surplus note bears an interest rate of 2.588% plus the then-current three-month London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”).  The surplus note is redeemable by the Company at the principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest after May 16, 2016.  The note matures on May 16, 2046. Payments of principal and interest under the surplus notes shall be made only out of surplus funds of the Company and only with prior written approval of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Colorado when the Commissioner of Insurance is satisfied that the financial condition of the Company warrants such action pursuant to applicable Colorado law.  Payments of principal and interest on the surplus notes are payable only if at the time of such payment and after giving effect to the making thereof, the Company’s surplus would not fall below 2.5 times the authorized control level as required by the most recent risk-based capital calculations. Interest expense attributable to these related party debt obligations was $37,059 for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. Included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is $4,701 of interest payable attributable to these related party debt obligations. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of South Carolina (“GWSC”) and CLAC are parties to a reinsurance agreement pursuant to which GWSC assumes term life insurance from CLAC.  GWL&A Financial obtained two letters of credit for the benefit of the Company as collateral under the GWSC and CLAC reinsurance agreement for policy liabilities and capital support.  The first letter of credit is for $1,168,800 and renews annually until it expires on July 3, 2027.  The second letter of credit is for $70,000 and renews annually until it expires on December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2014 and 2013 there were no outstanding amounts related to the letters of credit. Included within reinsurance receivable in the consolidated balance sheets are $522,180 and $495,140 of funds withheld assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  CLAC pays the Company, on a quarterly basis, interest on the funds withheld balance at a rate of 4.55% per annum. The interest income, in the amount of $21,295, $20,876 and $19,382, is included in net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. A subsidiary of the Company, Great-West Capital Management, LLC, serves as a Registered Investment Advisor to Great-West Funds, Inc., an affiliated open-end management investment company, to several affiliated insurance company separate accounts and to Great-West Trust Company, LLC, an affiliated trust company. Great-West Trust Company, LLC, serves as trustee to several collective investment trusts.  Included in fee income on the consolidated statements of income are $126,726, $107,854 and $84,137 of advisory, management and trustee fee income from these affiliated entities for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company’s separate accounts invest in shares of Great-West Funds, Inc. and Putnam Funds, which are affiliates of the Company and shares of other non-affiliated mutual funds and government and corporate bonds.  The Company’s separate accounts include mutual funds or other investment options that purchase guaranteed interest annuity contracts issued by the Company.  During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, these purchases totaled $132,961, $198,107 and $131,593, respectively.  As the general account investment contracts are also included in the separate account balances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, the Company has reduced the separate account assets and liabilities by $343,471 and $333,074 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, to eliminate these amounts in its consolidated balance sheets at those dates. On January 1, 2013, the Company terminated its reinsurance agreement with its affiliate, CLAC, pursuant to which it had ceded certain participating life business on a coinsurance basis.The Company recorded, at fair value, the following on January 1, 2013, in its consolidated balance sheet in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement: Assets LiabilitiesFixed maturities, available-for-sale $44,104 Undistributed earnings on participating business $4,781Policy loans 6,468 Due to parent and affiliates 3,841Reinsurance receivable (42,297)    Investment income due and accrued 347    Total $8,622 Total $8,622 The Company recorded the following on January 1, 2013, in its consolidated statement of income in connection with the termination of the reinsurance agreement: Premium income $42,297Other revenue 7,355Total 49,652   Increase in future policy benefits 41,297Dividends to policyholders 1,000Total 42,297   Participating policyholders’ net income before income taxes 7,355Income tax expense 2,574Participating policyholders’ income 4,781   Provision for policyholders’ share of earnings on participating business 4,781Net income available to shareholder $— In 2013, the Company performed its regular review of the investment portfolios.  As a result of that review, on December 1, 2013, the Company transferred $3,862 of cash and two mortgages with a market value of $28,959 to CLAC in exchange for four fixed maturity investments with a market value of $32,821.  As a result of the transaction, the Company recognized realized investment loss of $1,041. |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Paragraph b -Article 3AReference 5: 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.(k)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph k -Article 4Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39691-107864Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39678-107864
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