The rising demand for medical and annuity insurance by the rapidly graying population boosted revenues at many of the nation's six largest life insurers in the first half of fiscal 2005, according to earnings reports released Monday.

Surging stock prices backed by a recovering economy also helped the industry's financial health, which had been hit hard the last few years.

Annualized new premium income -- a recently focused measure almost equivalent to revenue at other businesses -- jumped at three insurers, including Nippon Life Insurance Co. and Mitsui Mutual Life Insurance Co.