Even with the economy in a tailspin and a soft insurance market, there is one area where agents and brokers can find premium and income growth in 2009.

The health-care facilities and services industry currently accounts for over 16 percent of the nation's gross national product, with growth expected to nearly 20 percent by 2017. Combined with anticipated spending growth of nearly six percent a year, health care may prove to be a welcome port for agents in this economic storm.

Although hospital spending is expected to decrease slightly, outpatient facilities and services and home health-care agencies are projected to see dramatic growth. Fueling that growth are emerging medical technologies, a youth-oriented society intent on delaying “aging effects,” and society's increased overall emphasis on good health and physical well-being.