Life insurance policies are based on how healthy a person is at the moment of applying for the policy and how long he/she is expected to live. A healthy life span is a sign of better life insurance rates and lower premiums. Age is also a factor. The situation in third world countries is very different from the norm in the United States and other richer countries. There are many villages in third world countries where poverty, disease, and living conditions directly affect the rate of mortality. Many people on those countries do not have sufficient food, live in war zones, and have to endure poor working conditions that are very physically demanding. In other countries, some cultural practices such as heavy smoking will affect health. All these things affect health directly and lower people's life span. Tied to that is the financial stress and lack of money of many people on those countries. Money is used for very basic needs such as food and clothing, and maybe to have a roof over their head.

In those countries, life insurance is not profitable for the insurers. The rate of mortality is high, the health conditions are very poor, and there is no money. However, the elite present a different opportunity for life insurance companies. In most third world countries, the middle class does not exist. The population is divided into rich and poor, with the rich having plenty financial power.

AIDS and its related health problems is one big problem in many areas, such as parts of Africa, Asia, Middle East, and some parts of South America. This is only one issue of many, but one that is hitting the population hard, and increasing mortality rates at an accelerated pace. Many areas of Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have a very unsatisfactory life indexes and the National Gross Profit is very low, and only focused in lowering national debt. It is not fertile territory for life insurance providers. Education on those countries is also very low and limited, and a lack of knowledge has a direct impact on health and disease prevention, as well as education on health related products and services - such as healthcare and life insurance policies. The lack of education and money, and of basic needs being met, as well as the focus of the government efforts in other national areas make these countries unfertile territory for life insurance companies.

In Kenya, issues with insurance companies abound. A great challenge for insurers is the lack of information that the population has about insurance products and the trust issues due to the same lack of information. There are also issues of fraudulent companies and scams, as well as issues of not paying claims and mismanagement of insurance companies. This and other issues have hampered insurance companies in Kenya and there are other government issues and license issues as well. Although there are insurance laws in Kenya, the biggest challenge continues to be how to convince a struggling population that they need a product for which they have no money, no education, and certainly no trust.