Life insurance global lifeline

Meanwhile, carriers are still courting specific markets within the United States, including Hispanics, gay couples, up-and-coming Gen Yers, and women—particularly those who are the main breadwinner in their household.

The growing middle class in Asia—as well as in the emerging markets of Russia, Turkey and Brazil—are fueling the growth in life insurance sales overseas, according to Trefis, an online investment research site developed by MIT engineers and Wall Street analysts. In Asia, more than 1.2 billion people expected to make the transition into the middle class by 2020, with China presenting one of the greatest opportunities for more life insurance sales.