Howard County
Driving in Howard County
There are approximately 28,950 registered vehicles in Howard County for both commercial and personal use. These automobiles account for approximately 0.12% of all registered vehicles in Texas.
More than 79% of Howard County drivers commute alone to work every day, with nearly one-fifth of those commutes lasting more than 30 minutes.
Approximately 20% of Texas vehicles are uninsured, which means Howard County may have nearly 6,000 uninsured or underinsured vehicles.
In Texas, having liability car insurance is required as "proof of financial responsibility," and driving without it is illegal.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
Nearly 29,000 vehicles in Howard County are required to have auto insurance. Private auto insurance, Commercial or Farm Auto insurance, Commercial Inland Marine insurance, and other types of insurance could be required. The type of vehicle and its intended use may also have an impact on auto insurance.
Uninsured driver coverage is becoming increasingly important in Texas because one out of every five drivers is uninsured or underinsured. Every year, Texans spend more than $900 million on Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage.
If you need Auto insurance in Howard County, contact a Property & Casualty insurance agent who is licensed in the state of Texas.
Howard County Housing
Howard County's housing market of approximately 13,253 units is split almost 2-1 between homeowners and renters. This is similar to the rest of Texas, where most homes are owner-occupied. The Texas state average for homeowners and renters is roughly 62/38 split. The surrounding counties are mostly made up of owner-occupied homes as well, with Sterling County having the highest homeownership rate, followed by Mitchell County with nearly 79%. In contrast, Howard County has the lowest rate, followed by Glasscock County with almost 66%.
Around 1 in 7 housing units in Howard County are experiencing overcrowding, lack of plumbing, and/or unsanitary kitchen conditions.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
Howard County has more than 13,000 housing units in need of insurance. All owner-occupied units should have homeowner's insurance to protect the owner's property from loss or damage (Homeowners or Condo). Business Property insurance covers apartment complexes, while condo associations buildings themselves are covered by Business condo association insurance.
Howard County has nearly 5,000 rental units, all of which should be insured with Landlord Insurance. Landlord insurance protects both the property and the owner from potential liability issues.
Tenants typically purchase Renters Insurance to protect their belongings from potential damage or loss. The standard Renter's Insurance policy covers theft and damage caused by water, fire, smoke, and vandalism. Landlords may also require renter's insurance as a condition of the lease.
Contact a Property & Casualty insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas for consultation and advice on Homeowners insurance or Renters insurance in Howard County.
Howard County Health
Howard County's health insurance rate is one of the best rated compared to its neighboring counties. In Howard County, only 1 out of every 5 adults and 11% of all children do not have health insurance. This figure is lower than the 20.7% state average (in 2021). Dawson and Scurry Counties have the highest uninsured rate among the neighboring counties, with more than 23% of residents lacking health insurance. Borden County, on the other hand, has the lowest rate of uninsured residents at around 12%. Gaines County has the highest rate of uninsured adults in Texas, approaching 36% while Loving County has the lowest, around 11%.
Nearly 1 out of 4 adults in Howard County has a health problem. Almost 30% of the population does not engage in physical activity, contributing to 36% of the population being obese, which is higher than the Texas average of 31%. Howard County has the highest obesity rate compared to its peer counties, followed by Martin County with 31% of the adult population. On the contrary, Mitchell County has the lowest obesity rate at 20%, tailed by Sterling County with 22% of the population.
In Howard County, at least 2 insurers provide affordable and regularly subsidized ACA health insurance, both in and out of the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
Health insurance is the most important type of insurance, and more than 6,000 Howard County residents do not have it.
Texas is one of the states that provides a broader range of health insurance and supplemental product options, making Texas healthcare more accessible: ACA-compliant Group and Individual marketplace health insurance, various types of short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), hospital indemnity, accident and health, and so on.
Health insurance can be prohibitively expensive, particularly for those with low incomes, so they are advised to apply for government subsidies, which can significantly reduce the cost of insurance. Short-term insurance may be an option if you do not have any pre-existing conditions. (Keep in mind that some multi-year short-term plans may cover specific pre-existing conditions after a full year of coverage.)
If you need consultation and advice on health insurance in Howard County, contact a Texas-licensed health insurance agent.
Howard County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
The average life expectancy in Howard County is estimated to be more than 74 years old, which is lower than the Texas state average of over 79 years old. Scurry County seems to have the highest life expectancy among neighboring counties, at 77.4 years old, which is more than 3 years longer than Howard County, and Martin County seems to have the lowest, at 73.5 years old. Presidio County has the highest average life expectancy rate in the state, at 88.8 years. With a life expectancy of 72.8 years, Donley County has the lowest average in the state.
Howard County had nearly 5,000 senior (65 and older) residents on record as of 2022.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans did not have any type of active life insurance policy.
Life insurance premiums are based on the insured's age at the start of the policy, so the younger you are when you get it, the less you will have to pay in premiums over the course of the policy period.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Howard County
Annually, roughly 9 fatal crashes occur on Howard County roads, with a rate of 29.7 fatal crashes per 100,000 vehicles on the road.
Howard County had 703 crashes in 2020, resulting in 14 fatalities, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT). Alcohol was responsible for almost 19% of all traffic deaths.
Final Expenses - Howard County Funeral Home Cost
A traditional funeral service in Texas can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $12,000, which includes the basic service fees, casket, embalming, transportation, viewing, and burial. The average cost of a funeral service in Texas is $6,200, while the cost of a funeral service in Howard County is close to $8,600. Borden County is closer to $8,000, and Dawson County is around $8,100.
Life Insurance Analysis:
Nearly 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in life savings, which means that over 2,000 Howard County senior residents may be putting an undue burden on their family and friends with basic funeral expenses. For example, rather than mourning the loss of a loved one, the family must find a way to pay.
Aside from burial costs, the deceased may have left behind taxes and debts for the family to deal with.
Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance are the most commonly used life insurance policies that cover "final expenses" up to $50,000.
The most common life insurance policies that allow money to be left to family members are Term Life Insurance and Cash Value Life, such as Whole Life Insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance, and Final Expenses.
If you need consultation and advice on life insurance in Howard County, contact a Texas-licensed life insurance agent.
