Cameron County
Driving in Cameron County
A total of 334,373 registered vehicles in Cameron County utilize its busy roads. This number accounts for 1.43% of all automobiles listed in Texas.
Nearly 85% of the car owners in the county drive alone to work almost every day, and 1 out of 5 of those drivers need at least 30 minutes to get to their destination.
It is estimated that 20% of the drivers in Texas do not have an auto insurance policy, which means almost 67,000 vehicles in Cameron County alone might be uninsured.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
Cameron County has well over 300 thousand registered vehicles, and they all need at least the minimum coverage as dictated by state law. On top of that, Comprehensive Auto, Gap Coverage, Comprehensive Auto, and Commercial Transportation are only a few of the options that car owners can choose from depending on what vehicles they own and how they utilize them.
Around 200 thousand drivers in Cameron County are on the road by themselves almost daily, which means that traffic congestion is a daily occurrence. This can drive auto insurance premiums up since the likelihood of a vehicular collision is higher. The more risk involved, the more expensive the insurance policy is.
At least $30,000 in Liability Coverage is required by the state of Texas, which will cover the costs for the repair of the other driver’s vehicle and/or hospital bills if you were proven to be at fault for the accident.
Uninsured Driver Coverage is becoming more vital since 1 out of 5 drivers in the state don’t have auto insurance. Texans spend a total of almost $900 million every year for Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Coverage costs.
For a consultation and advice about auto insurance in Cameron County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Cameron County Housing
Cameron County’s 159,076 housing unit market is split between owner-occupied homes and renter-inhabited properties almost at the same rate as the majority of Texas. Statewide, 62% of homes are inhabited by the owners themselves, and 38% are populated with renters. Cameron County, on the other hand, is split at 66% and 34%.
Compared to its neighbors, Cameron County has the lowest homeowner-occupied rate, while Willacy County has the highest at 71%, and Hidalgo County is in the middle with 68%.
Almost 1 out of 4 homes in Cameron County experience housing issues, overcrowding, substandard plumbing, or problems with the kitchen. In approximately 15% of households, families spend half of their income on housing.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
More than 159 thousand properties in Cameron County need insurance coverage. All owners of these properties should have at least Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) to protect the underlying financial investment from damage or even loss.
With over 54 thousand housing units in Cameron County listed for rent, landlords ought to purchase Landlord Insurance, which covers the property and any possible liability claims coming from the tenants.
Tenants should secure Renters Insurance to protect their belongings from damage or loss. The average cost of this coverage is affordable, and it will cover the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Many landlords in Cameron County include Renters Insurance as a requirement of the lease.
Cameron County’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico leaves it susceptible to hurricanes. In addition to being prepared and knowing what to do in case of a hurricane, Cameron County residents must understand how this risk influences their home insurance coverage.
Contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas for advice and consultation about Homeowners, Renters, Flood, Condo, and other kinds of home insurance in Cameron County.
Cameron County Health
The percentage of people who don’t have proper health insurance coverage in Cameron County amounts to 31% (including children) — a figure that is significantly higher than the Texas average (≈21%).
Looking at its neighbors, Hidalgo County has the highest rate at 33%, while Willacy County has the lowest, with 23% of the residents not having any type of health insurance coverage.
Statewide, Gaines County has the highest adult uninsured rate at nearly 36%, while Loving County proudly has the lowest percentage at just 11.4%. As of 2021, the average adult uninsured rate in Texas was approximately 20.7%.
Over 34% of Cameron County residents report problems with their health, and this translates to more than 100,000 people. The county’s numbers for obesity are pretty close to these figures, with 31% of adults considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more), meaning nearly 93,000 residents are affected. Hidalgo and Willacy Counties, on the other hand, both have a 38% obesity rate. It is estimated that 1 out of 4 adults in Cameron County does not exercise.
There are at least 3 health insurers in Cameron County that offer affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on and off the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Because of the possible repercussions of not having it, health insurance is deemed the most important type to have. However, despite this fact, well over 100 thousand Cameron County residents are uninsured or have very limited coverage.
Around 93 thousand residents of Cameron County are obese, which means that their health insurance policy, should they decide to get one, may be more expensive, unless they choose ACA-compliant coverage, which cannot discriminate based on pre-existing conditions.
The sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products is allowed in Texas, so securing coverage that fits their specific needs (both medically and financially) is much easier. Texans can take out Marketplace ACA health insurance, Various types of Short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
Over 100 thousand residents of Cameron County opted not to get proper health insurance coverage, largely due to not being able to afford it. These individuals should reach out to a knowledgeable health insurance agent, to help them apply for government subsidies, which can significantly lower the total cost.
Short-term Insurance is another way to save money if you do not have any pre-existing conditions. (If you have had your policy for a year or more, pre-existing conditions may be covered by some Texas multi-year short-term health insurance.)
Discuss your health insurance needs with a state-licensed Texas health insurance professional to go over your best health insurance options in Cameron County.
Cameron County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Cameron County has an average life expectancy of 81 years old — which is a couple of years longer than the state average (79). Among its neighbors, Hidalgo County has the highest average at 82 years old, while Willacy County has the lowest at 78 years.
In the state of Texas, Presidio County has the highest average at 89, and Donley County has the lowest life expectancy at 73 years old.
In 2022, there were approximately 58,874 seniors (65 and older) living in Cameron County.
Life Insurance Analysis:
- In 2021, 48% of Americans did not own any kind of life insurance coverage.
- Young adults tend to believe that they do not need life insurance yet, but getting a policy as early as possible can save them a lot of money in the long run. Life insurance premiums become more expensive as the potential policyholder gets older.
- Around 18% of Cameron County residents smoke, and this habit will spike up the premiums of more than 43 thousand residents. A smoker’s life insurance premiums are around four times more expensive than a non-smoker's, as their life expectancy is deemed shorter unless they change their habits.
- Whole Life Insurance also has a cash value component, meaning that after a stated period, the policyholder can use the funds for emergency use or to pay for the premiums of the same policy.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Cameron County
Motor vehicle fatalities in Cameron County occur at a rate of 9.72 per 100,000 vehicles on the road, averaging 32-33 fatal car crashes per year.
Back in 2020, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) reported 6,169 crashes in Cameron County, which led to 28 fatalities. Almost 17% of all fatal car crashes in the county involved alcohol.
Final Expenses - Cameron County Funeral Home Costs
The average cost of a funeral in Cameron County is around $5,010, which is significantly lower than the Texas average of $6,200. Willacy County has the lowest average among its neighbors at $3,170, while Hidalgo County has the most expensive funeral at almost $5,700.
Life Insurance Analysis:
- With 46% of Americans dying with less than $10,000 in assets, the cost of a standard burial for almost 59 thousand Cameron County residents could fall on the shoulders of the deceased person’s friends and family. Instead of mourning their loved one’s passing, they will have to focus on figuring out how to pay for the funeral.
- Aside from burial expenses, the deceased could possibly leave unpaid taxes and unsettled debts, which adds to the mourning family’s woes.
- Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance are the most common life insurance policy types to cover "final expenses" up to $50,000.
- There are different kinds of insurance policies that can help the bereaved family through financial assistance. Such life insurance policies can be variations of Term Life Insurance and Permanent Life Insurance.
Reach out to a life insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas to get advice regarding life insurance in Cameron County and help lighten the load for your family.
The use of a Texas insurance agent typically does NOT incur additional costs to the insured.
