Bay County

Bay County Driving Statistics and Analysis

Approximately 131,008 personal and commercial automobiles consider Bay County roads their home. All the vehicles in Bay County account for approximately 0.7% of all registered vehicles in the entire state of Florida.

Bay County has roughly 81% of adult drivers that commute to and from work by themselves, and nearly 32% of those trips take more than half an hour to complete.

The percentage of uninsured drivers in Florida is around 20%, which means that more than 26,000 vehicles in Bay County could be uninsured or underinsured.

Nearly 1 in 4 crashes in Bay County is a hit-and-run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Bay County

Automobile fatalities in Bay County statistically occur at a rate of 16.63 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: almost 22 fatal crashes yearly.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 4,461 crashes in Bay County: 35 fatal crashes, with a resultant 43 deaths (including 5 motorcyclists). Alcohol was considered the main factor for the fatal crashes in Bay County in approximately 19% of all driving fatalities.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Bay County has over 131 thousand registered vehicles that require some type of insurance coverage. The required insurance is dependent on the type of automobile and its usage. Basic Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverages are required by Florida state to all vehicles to protect others from damages that may occur during accidents. Some of the available options for insurance coverage are; Private Auto, Farm or Commercial Auto, Non-owners car insurance, Farm or Commercial Transportation, Inland Marine, Collision coverage, Ride-sharing, Short-term car insurance, etc.
2. With 1 in 4 crashes reported as hit-and-run and 20% of drivers being uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains important for Bay County residents.

To receive advice about auto insurance and to find affordable car insurance in Bay County, contact a knowledgeable Property and Casualty insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.

Bay County Housing Statistics and Analysis

Bay County’s estimated 108,894 housing units are split between Homeowners (65%) and Renters (35%), which is the lowest homeowner-occupied rate among the neighbors. Bay County’s split is identical to the rest of Florida. Among Bay County’s neighbors, the highest percentage of homeowner-occupied is found in Calhoun County at roughly 81%, followed by Washington County, with almost 78%.
Across Florida, Sumter County has the most homes occupied by owners (nearly 90%) while Miami-Dade County offers the highest percentage of its real estate as rentals (49%).
Approximately 16% of housing units in Bay County encounter housing problems like overcrowding, kitchen problems, or plumbing issues. In roughly 25% of homes, residents attribute more than half of their salary to housing alone.

Housing Insurance Analysis:

1. Nearly 109 thousand housing units in Bay County need insurance coverage. In this way, they can safeguard their property from the possibility of damage or even loss. All the owners of these properties should have at least the following: Homeowners, Condo Insurance, and/or Business Property Insurance (for apartment complexes).
2. With almost 38,000 housing units in Bay County listed for rent, Landlords purchase Landlord Insurance to protect the property and cover liability claims that can come from the tenants.
3. Renters insurance Panama City: To protect the property from possible damage or theft, tenants acquire Renters Insurance. The average renters’ insurance is inexpensive and covers the tenant’s property from loss and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Renters Insurance is included as part of the lease condition to some of the landlords in Bay County.
4. Bay County is located on the coast, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes typically cause wind and flooding damages. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Bay County is between early June and the end of November. Residents of Florida should be aware of the established procedures and protocols by the local County and State agencies. All homeowners, landlords, and renters in Bay County should maintain adequate insurance coverage to protect their property against possible loss and damage from wind and water damage.
   For consultation regarding Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Bay County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
   A Florida P&C insurance agent:

• Examines your needs and limitations
• Examines your current policy to ensure that the coverages reflect the housing market's current requirements and help update if needed
• Reviews the local plans that meet your requirements and is generally able to discover a better offer than a customer might get on their own
• Checks for available savings and bundling discount
• Lays out available options of coverage
• Describes the effect of the different options once the insurance policy becomes active
• Helps you with the process of application
• Does not influence your cost of insurance (Agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer)

Bay County Health Statistics and Analysis

Bay County has around 18% of adult residents that do not have adequate insurance coverage, which is close to the state average of 19%. The highest uninsured rate among Bay County’s neighbors is observed in Walton County, at over 19%, while the lowest is seen in Gulf County, at nearly 15%. In the entire state of Florida, Hendry County holds the highest uninsured adult rate, with 35%, while the lowest rate is reported in St. Johns County, at under 13%. In 2021, the average uninsured adult rate in Florida was 19.2%.
Roughly 21% of adult residents in Bay County report health problems, meaning almost 36,000 residents are experiencing poor health.
Furthermore, around 31% of Bay County’s residents fail to engage in any physical exercise, contributing to 30% of the population being obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Bay County’s obesity rate is the lowest among its nearby counties, with Washington County reporting the highest obesity rate, at almost 38%, followed by Jackson County at over 37%. The average obesity rate in the entire state of Florida is over 27%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Bay County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.

Health Insurance Analysis:

1. Nearly 26,000 residents of Bay County do not have proper health insurance - the most important insurance coverage.
2. Florida is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental products. This makes it easier for Bay County residents to obtain coverage that fits their specific needs (both medically and financially): Marketplace ACA health insurance, Various types of Short-term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Accident & Health, etc.
3. Low-income health insurance: If low-income consumers find health insurance too expensive, they are generally advised to apply for government subsidies to lower the cost of insurance.
4. Short-Term Insurance can offer another way to save money if you do not have a pre-existing condition. (*Some Florida multi-year short-term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage)
   Explore your insurance needs with a knowledgeable state-licensed Florida health insurance professional with access to various health insurance plans available in Bay County. Offerings of health insurance coverage and its pricing may differ between zip codes.
   A Florida health insurance agent: analyzes your needs and restrictions, researches the locally available plans that fit your needs, provides you with the available options of coverage, and explains how the differences between the options affect you once you start using each insurance product. The agent assists you with the application process, and at any time you need to make a change to the policy or shop for replacement coverage.

Bay County End of Life Statistics and Analysis

The average lifespan in Bay County is estimated at 76.4 years. This figure is lower than the Florida average of 80 years. Among Bay County’s neighbors, Walton County has the longest average life expectancy, at 78.8 years, while the shortest is reported in Washington County, between 72 and 73 years. Compared to the rest of Florida, Collier County has the longest average lifespan of over 86 years, with Union County posting the shortest, at under 69 years old.
Approximately 31,000 seniors (65 and older) lived in Bay County in 2022.

Life Insurance Facts:

1. In 2022, nearly 47% of Americans did not have active life insurance.
2. Life insurance premiums are based on the age of the insured when the policy starts, among other factors. Life insurance applicants can save a considerable sum of money if they take out the policy at a younger age.
3. Nearly 22% of adults in Bay County are smokers, thereby increasing the life insurance premiums of 29 thousand residents by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. The life expectancy of a smoker is usually shorter, making them more of a risk than people who do not smoke.

Bay County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The average price of a funeral in Bay County is around $5,300, which is lower than the $5,900 state-average. Among its peer counties, Washington County’s average funeral expense is similar to Bay County, at $5,300, while Jackson County has a slightly lower cost, at $5,200. These amounts usually include basic service fees, casket, embalming, transportation, viewing, and burial.
Statewide, Collier County tends to have the most expensive funerals at about $9,600, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest, both closer to $4,600.

Life Insurance Analysis:

1. About 46% of Americans pass away with savings of less than $10,000. This could mean that over 14 thousand Bay County senior residents leave an unnecessary and possibly unbearable financial burden on their family members and loved ones. Instead of mourning their loss, the family must find a way to settle the balances left by the deceased.
   (Note: if using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”).
2. Another possibility is that unpaid taxes and other debts are also left by the deceased besides the burial costs. Discuss your senior life insurance options with licensed Florida professionals.
3. Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance are the most used life insurance policies covering “final expenses” up to $50,000. Term Life Insurance and Cash Value Insurance, such as Whole Life Insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance, and Final Expense (FE), are the most used life insurance policy variations to leave money to the grieving family.
   Speak with an experienced and licensed Florida insurance professional about life insurance options and to get life insurance quotes in Bay County. Knowledgeable insurance professionals with access to multiple insurers can help you evaluate your needs and then offer you different solutions to fill them.

Bay County - Business

Each of the nearly 6 thousand businesses in Bay County has different commercial insurance requirements. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for almost 53% of all employment in the county in 2020, were:

• Manufacturing (20.2%)
• Government (16.8%)
• Education and Health Services (15.9%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:

• Production facilities and property
• Employees’ health and safety
• Product liability coverage protects the company itself in case the product hurts someone and the injured party files a claim or a suit against the manufacturer.

1. Health providers usually get medical malpractice coverage according to the amount of damage their work can cause to the patients.

To assess your business insurance needs and to get a commercial insurance quote in Bay County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium finance options. Always try to compare at least 2 or 3 options before deciding on the coverage.