Hidalgo County
Driving in Hidalgo County
The roads in Hidalgo County are home to around 693,936 private and commercial cars, according to estimates for 2022. This number accounts for approximately 3% of all vehicles registered in the entire state of Texas.
The majority of adult drivers in Hidalgo County (almost 80%) drive alone to work, and more than one-third (23%) of those commutes take longer than 30 minutes.
In Texas, it is estimated that 20% of drivers are uninsured, which equates to almost 139,000 vehicles in Hidalgo County alone.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
In Hidalgo County, there are nearly 700,000 vehicles registered, all of which require some form of insurance coverage. Insurance requirements vary depending on the type of vehicle and its intended usage and may include: Private Auto, Commercial Auto, Auto Liability, Comprehensive Auto, Ride-sharing Coverage, Non-owner Car Insurance, and many others.
One of the reasons that auto insurance expenses in Hidalgo County tend to be higher when compared to less densely populated counties is the nearly 400,000 drivers that commute every day to and from work. Because everyone is driving their own vehicle, there are more vehicles on the road, which increases the risk of a traffic collision occurring. As the level of risk increases, so do the rates of insurance premiums.
With 1 out 5 drivers uninsured in Texas, Uninsured Driver Coverage becomes increasingly important. Texans spend nearly $900 million annually to pay for Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Coverage.
For consultation and advice about auto insurance in Hidalgo County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Hidalgo County Housing
In 2022, there were approximately 302,760 housing units in Hidalgo County. Despite the fact that Hidalgo County contains a nearly equal proportion of urban and rural areas, the vast majority of housing units (68%) are owner-occupied, with the remaining (32% of total housing units) being rented out to tenants. The Texas average is closer to a 62/38 split. When comparing Hidalgo County to its neighboring counties, Kenedy County has the highest number of renters per available housing unit, with nearly 77% of the county's housing being offered for rent. Meanwhile, the percentage of owner-occupied homes in Willacy County and Starr County is approximately 70-75% on average.
More than 1 in 4 housing units in Hidalgo County is affected by housing concerns, such as overcrowding, a lack of plumbing, or kitchen-related issues. Residents of around 15% of homes spend more than half of their income on housing costs.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
In Hidalgo County, there are nearly 300,000 housing units that require insurance coverage. Having Homeowners, Condo, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) should be a bare minimum for all owners of these properties in order to safeguard the underlying financial investment from potential loss or damage.
With nearly 97 thousand rental housing units in Hidalgo County, landlords are encouraged to purchase Landlord Insurance, which protects both the property itself and the landlord from any potential liability claims originating from the tenants' actions or inaction.
It is recommended that tenants purchase Renters Insurance coverage in order to protect their things from potential damage or loss. The average renter's insurance policy is affordable, and it often protects the tenant's belongings against theft and damage caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Rental insurance may be required by some landlords in Hidalgo County as a condition of the lease agreement.
For consultation and advice about Homeowners insurance or Renters insurance in Hidalgo County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Hidalgo County Health
Hidalgo County’s uninsured rate of approximately 33% is higher than the Texas state average (20.7). Compared to the neighbors in the area: Brooks County has the lowest number of residents without proper health insurance (19%), while Starr County and Cameron County are similar to the rate of Hidalgo County, coming in at the next highest uninsured adults at above 30%. The highest uninsured adult rate in the state of Texas is in Gaines County, at nearly 36%, while the lowest rate is observed in Loving County at just 11.4%. As of 2022, the average adult uninsured rate in Texas was around 20.7%.
Nearly 1 in 3 adults in Hidalgo County report problems with health. That is over 198,000 people.
The lack of physical exercise is one of the major factors of poor health conditions in Hidalgo County, where over 24% of the residents do not participate in exercise activities on a regular basis.
Around 38% of Hidalgo County residents are considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more), which is higher than the Texas average of 31.4%. Among the neighboring counties, Kenedy County reports the lowest – at 22% of the residents, while adults from Brooks (35%), Willacy (38%), and Starr (32%) report the highest. Counties are also above the Texas average, which may also be considered obese.
At least 3 health insurers in Hidalgo County offer affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance, on and off the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Health insurance is the most crucial type of insurance coverage, and almost 260 thousand residents of Hidalgo County do not have this essential coverage.
Texas is one of the states that allow the sale of a variety of different types of health insurance and supplemental insurance products. Texas residents will have an easier time obtaining coverage that meets their individual needs (both medically and financially) as a result of this: Group or Individual ACA health insurance, Various types of Short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
If low-income consumers are unable to obtain health insurance owing to financial constraints, they should consider applying for government subsidies, which can significantly reduce the cost of insurance.
If you do not have pre-existing conditions, Short term insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (* Some Texas multi-year short term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage)
For consultation and advice about health insurance in Hidalgo County contact a health insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Hidalgo County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Residents of Hidalgo County have an average life expectancy of 81.9 years, which is higher than the state average of 79.2 years for residents of Texas. Comparing the neighboring counties: With an average life expectancy of roughly 81 years old, Cameron County is said to have the second-highest average life expectancy in the area, while Brooks County's estimated average life span is the lowest in the area, at over 74 years old. The highest life expectancy in Texas is seen in Presidio County at 88.8, and the lowest expected life span is in Donley County, at 72.8 years old.
In 2022, there were approximately 99,855 senior residents (65 and older) in Hidalgo County.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans did not have life insurance.
Life insurance premiums are based on the age of the insured when the policy begins. The younger you are when you get it, the more you save in premiums over the course of the policy.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Hidalgo County
In Hidalgo County, motor vehicle fatalities occur at a rate of 10.23 per 100,000 vehicles on the road, resulting in around 70-71 fatal crashes each year on the road according to statistics.
In 2020, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) reported over 12,730 crashes in Hidalgo County, with a resultant 46 fatalities. Alcohol was responsible for more than one-third of all traffic deaths.
Final Expenses - Hidalgo County Funeral Home Costs
The average price of a funeral in Hidalgo County is around $5,700, which is lower than the state average of around $6,200. Among the neighbors of Hidalgo County, Cameron County has the second-highest average funeral cost in the area, at more than $5,000, while funeral homes in Kenedy County and Willacy County, which have similar costs at around $3,100, which is considered to have the lowest funeral home cost among its neighboring counties and in the state overall.
Life Insurance Analysis:
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, almost 46 thousand Hidalgo County senior residents could be placing the unnecessary and frequently unbearable financial burden on family and friends. Instead of grieving their loss, the family must concentrate on finding a way to pay. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
Besides the burial costs, the deceased frequently leave taxes and other debt behind for the family to take care of.
The most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000 are: Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance.
The most commonly used life insurance policies to leave money to the family are the variations of: Term Life Insurance and Cash Value insurance, such as Whole Life insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance, and Final Expense.
For consultation and advice about life insurance in Hidalgo County, contact a life insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
