| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 2418416 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans Employee Benefits Plan (Target allocation of plan assets) (Details) (http://www.greatwest.com/role/EmployeeBenefitPlansEmployeeBenefitsPlanTargetAllocationOfPlanAssetsDetails) |
| Table | Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] |
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0000744455 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) |
| Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Axis] | Defined Benefit Pension Plan |
| Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | Period [Axis] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31 | ||||
| Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] | ||||
| Equity securities | Debt securities | Other | Plan Asset Categories [Domain] | |
Target plan asset allocations | ||||