Willacy County
Driving in Willacy County
Willacy County highways are home to about 16,559 private and commercial vehicles. This represents 0.07% of all automobiles registered in the entire state of Texas.
Over 83% of the drivers in Willacy County commute to work alone, and 1 out of 3 of these commuters take a drive for more than 30 minutes daily.
Given that 20% of Texas drivers are uninsured, Willacy County might have more than 3 thousand vehicles without any type of coverage.
Auto Insurance Analysis:
Willacy County has more than 16 thousand registered vehicles that need auto insurance coverage. While Auto Liability is required of all vehicles in Texas, other coverage types can also be purchased, depending on the type and use of the vehicle. These are Private Auto, Commercial or Farm Auto, Comprehensive Coverage, Commercial or Farm Transportation, Inland Marine, etc.
As 1 out of 5 drivers in Texas is uninsured, the Uninsured Driver Coverage becomes more vital. Uninsured and Underinsured Auto Coverage costs Texans about $900 million yearly.
To discuss your auto insurance in Willacy County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Texas.
Willacy County Housing
Of the approximately 7,505 housing units in Willacy County, 70% are occupied by their owners and 30% by renters. The owner-occupied rate in Willacy County is significantly higher than the Texas average of 62%. Among the neighbors, Willacy County has the highest figure, followed by Hidalgo County at 68%. Kenedy County, on the other hand, has drastically different demographics,as there are more tenant-occupied homes (77%) than housing units inhabited by the owners (23%).
Overcrowding, plumbing, and kitchen issues are among the reported problems encountered by nearly 1 in 5 housing units in Willacy County. In about 19% of homes, housing expenditures cost the residents more than 50% of their household income.
Housing Insurance Analysis:
More than 7 thousand housing units in Willacy County need to be covered by insurance that will secure the investment outlaid on the properties. At the least, Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) should be acquired for protection against loss or damage.
With over 2,200 rented homes in Willacy County, landlords should obtain Landlord Insurance that covers not only the property itself but also the possible liability claims by the tenants.
For tenants, Renters Insurance is usually purchased for the protection of their belongings from loss or theft or damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Average renters’ insurance usually does not cost much but already covers the tenant’s belongings. Some owners of rental units require Renters Insurance as part of the lease conditions.
Willacy County is part of the Rio Grande Valley region’s floodplain. As it is located along the Gulf Coast, the county is prone to natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, and the resulting floods which could destroy houses and properties, and even lives. While a local agency is in place during disasters, it is still important that the residents know how to protect themselves from the dangers of these events. In 2020, Hurricane Hanna brought heavy floods and intense winds that caused massive devastation in Willacy County. For peace of mind, all Willacy County residents and property owners need to consider purchasing disaster insurance.
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 Willacy County.
A Texas P&C insurance agent analyzes your needs and restrictions, researches the locally available plans that fit your needs, provides you with the available options of coverage, explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product, assists you with the application process and does not charge additional costs on top of the insurance policy.
Willacy County Health
In Willacy County, 23% adults and 9% of children do not have the proper health insurance. Although Willacy County has the lowest uninsured adult rate among its peer counties, it is still higher than Texas’ average of around 21% (in 2021). The highest in the surrounding counties is Hidalgo County, with 33%. Statewide, Gaines County has the highest figure with 36% of the adult residents without proper health insurance, and Loving County has the lowest of around 11%.
About 2 in 5 adults in Willacy County report problems with health. This makes up more than 6 thousand residents.
Around 38% of Willacy County locals have a BMI of 30 or more, possibly partially because 26% of its population lacks physical exercise. The obesity rate in Willacy County is around 38%, surpassing Texas’ average of 31.4%. Among the neighboring counties, Hidalgo County and Willacy County have the highest obesity rate, while Kenedy County has the lowest at 22%.
There are at least 2 health insurers in Willacy County that offer affordable and commonly subsidized ACA health insurance, on and off the state marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis:
While health insurance is the most important among other insurances, there are more than 4 thousand Willacy County residents who do not have proper health insurance coverage.
Since Texas is among the states where the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products are allowed, Texans have access to different health insurance options that can meet their specific needs, both medically and financially. ACA health insurance, Various types of Short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc., are among the choices available.
To be able to afford the cost of health insurance, lower-income consumers may apply for government subsidies.
For Willacy County residents without pre-existing conditions, Short-term insurance may be 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)
Discuss your health insurance needs with a state-licensed Texas health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance options available in Willacy County.
Willacy County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Willacy County residents live at an average of 77.5 years, which is shorter than the Texas average of 79.2, and the lowest among its peer counties. The longest lifespan in the area is recorded in Hidalgo County with 81.9 years. Statewide, Presidio County has the highest average life expectancy at 88.8, while Donley County has the lowest at 72.8 years.
In 2022, there were more than 3 thousand adults aged 65 and older in Willacy County.
Life Insurance Facts:
In 2022, the countrywide percentage of uninsured Americans was 47%.
Age matters a lot in the computation of life insurance premiums. Younger policyholders have lower premiums over the course of the insurance plan.
Motor Vehicle Fatalities in Willacy County
The rate of car accident occurrences in Willacy County is 20.4 per 100,000 vehicles on the highway. Leading to approximately 3 fatal crashes in one year.
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) reported 198 crashes with 1 resultant death in Willacy County for the year 2020. About 27% of driving fatalities in Willacy County are attributed to driving under the influence of alcohol.
Final Expenses – Willacy County Funeral Home Cost
The average funeral cost in Willacy County is $3,200, same as its neighbor - Kenedy County. This price is the lowest, not just among its peer counties, but in the entire state of Texas. Conversely, the highest average cost in the nearby counties ($5,700) is in Hidalgo County, which is still lower than the Texas average of $6,200.
Life Insurance Analysis:
Approximately 46% of Americans die with savings of less than $10,000. This means that some Willacy County senior residents may be leaving behind financial burdens to their families upon death. Rather than grieve for the loss, the bereaved family and friends could be more preoccupied with making payment arrangements and figuring out how to pay for the funeral expenses. 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 could also leave behind taxes and debts, which the family will have to handle.
Commonly used life insurance plans that cover the “final expenses” up to $50,000 include Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance.
Life insurance policies that can provide financial assistance to the bereaved families can be Term Life Insurance and the variations of Permanent Life Insurance: Whole Life, Indexed Universal Life, and others.
Speak with a knowledgeable licensed Texas insurance professional about life insurance options in Willacy County.
A life Insurance Agent:
- assesses your needs and restrictions,
- presents all locally available plans that fit your needs, and all available options of coverage,
- explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product, and
- guides you through the application process.
