Washington County
Driving in Washington County
Washington County is home to an estimated 28,398 private and commercial vehicles, accounting for about 0.12% of all vehicles registered in Texas.
Roughly 85% of adult drivers in Washington County drive alone to work, and almost a quarter of those commutes last more than 30 minutes.
It is estimated that 1 out of 5 Texas drivers are uninsured across the state, with almost 6,000 vehicles in Washington County being possibly uninsured.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
Insurance is required for over 28,000 vehicles registered in Washington County. Private auto, commercial or farm auto, comprehensive coverage, commercial or farm transportation, inland marine, and other types of insurance may be required depending on the type of vehicle and its use. Liability auto coverage is required for all vehicles on the road.
A longer commute increases the cost of auto insurance because it increases the amount of time a driver spends on the road and increases the likelihood of being involved in a car accident.
Uninsured Driver Coverage is becoming more vital in Texas because one out of every five drivers is uninsured. Every year, Texans spend nearly $900 million on uninsured and underinsured auto coverage.
Contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas for a consultation and advice on auto insurance in Washington County.
Washington County Housing
As of 2022, Washington County had around 16,965 housing units. The county's housing market is split between homeowners (74%) and renters (26%), which is more homeowner-dominated compared to the state average of 62% homeowner-occupied and 38% renter-occupied. The surrounding counties are mostly composed of owner-occupied homes, with Fayette County leading the way with nearly 82% homeownership and Brazos County coming in last with nearly 47%.
Overcrowding, a lack of plumbing, or kitchen problems affect more than one out of every ten housing units in Washington County. In approximately 15% of homes, housing expenses consume more than half of a household's income.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
There are nearly 17,000 housing units in Washington County that require insurance. At the very least, they should all have Homeowner's coverage to protect the property's owners from loss or damage and to guard the underlying financial investment against potential loss or damage.
With more than 4,000 rented units in Washington County, landlords are usually advised to obtain Landlord Insurance. This safeguards the property against any potential liability claims made by its tenants.
Renters Insurance should be obtained by tenants to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss. Renters' insurance is typically inexpensive and protects the tenant's property from theft and damage caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some landlords in Washington County may demand renters insurance as a condition of the lease.
Contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas for consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Washington County.
Washington County Health
Although Washington County is not the worst in terms of health insurance when compared to its neighbors, 1 out of 5 adults in Washington County does not have adequate health insurance coverage, and nearly 14% of the children in the county are uninsured. Waller County has the highest adult uninsured rate among neighboring counties, at 24%, and with 18% of adults uninsured, Brazos County has the lowest rate. Gaines County has the highest uninsured adult rate in Texas, at nearly 36%, while Loving County has the lowest rate, at 11.4%. The average adult uninsured rate in Texas was around 20.7% in 2021.
More than one in every five people in the county are reporting health-related problems. That equates to nearly 6,000 people.
Since 37% of Washington County residents do not engage in physical activity, more than 1 out of 3 Washington County residents are obese (with a BMI of 30 or higher). This is higher than the 31% Texas average. Fayette County has the lowest obesity rate among neighboring counties, with 24% of residents obese, while Burleson County has the highest, with over 47% of adults obese.
On and off the state marketplace, at least 3 health insurers in Washington County provide affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance.
Health Insurance Analysis:
The most vital type of insurance is health insurance, and nearly 6,000 Washington County residents lack it.
Texas is one of the states that allow the sale of various health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for Texans to obtain coverage that meets their specific needs (both medically and financially): Marketplace ACA health insurance, Short-term insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
If low-income consumers are unable to acquire health insurance due to financial constraints, they should apply for government subsidies, which can significantly lower insurance costs.
If you do not have any pre-existing conditions, short-term insurance may be an option. (* 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 Washington County, contact a knowledgeable health insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Washington County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
The average life expectancy in Washington County is 80.2 years old, which is higher than the Texas average of 79.2 years old. When compared to its neighboring counties, Brazos County has the highest life expectancy at 81 years old, nearly one year longer than Washington County. Grimes County, on the other hand, has the youngest at 76.7 years old. Donley County has the lowest life expectancy in Texas, at 72.8 years, and Presidio County has the highest, at 88.8 years.
In 2022, Washington County had nearly 8,000 senior residents (65 and older).
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2021, 48% of Americans did not have any type of active life insurance policy.
The cost of life insurance is heavily influenced by the insured's age when they apply for and are accepted for the policy. Locking in the premium price at a young age is highly suggested because it can provide the insured with more savings over the course of the policy.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Washington County
Motor vehicle fatalities occur at a rate of 23.32 per 100,000 vehicles on the roads in Washington County. This equates to 6-7 fatal crashes per year on average.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) reported 772 crashes in Washington County in 2020, with the resulting 9 fatalities. Alcohol has been determined to be the primary cause of fatal crashes in more than 16% of all driving fatalities.
Final Expenses - Washington County Funeral Home Costs
Funeral expenses in and around Washington County vary drastically. The average price of a funeral in Washington County is almost $6,500, which is higher than the average funeral cost across Texas, of around $6,200. Among the neighboring counties, Austin County has the most expensive funeral cost with more than $6,600, while the most affordable is in Waller County at around $5,300.
Life Insurance Analysis (continued):
With 46% of Americans dying with less than $10,000 in savings, almost 4,000 Washington County senior residents may be putting an unnecessary and frequently unbearable financial burden on their family and friends.,. Rather than focusing on their loss, the family must concentrate on finding a way to pay. (Note: When using life insurance to pay for funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be "assignable."
In addition to burial costs, the deceased frequently leave unpaid taxes and other debts for the surviving family to deal with.
Life insurance policy and final expense insurance are the most commonly used types of insurance policies for covering "final expenses" of up to $50,000.
Variations of Term Life Insurance and Cash Value insurance, such as Whole Life insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance, and Final Expense insurance, are the most common life insurance policies used to leave money to family members.
For consultation and advice about life insurance in Washington County, contact a knowledgeable and experienced Texas life insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and plans.
