Gulf County

Driving in Gulf County

It is estimated that about 9,674 registered private and commercial vehicles call the roads of Gulf County their home. This total constitutes around 0.05% of all the registered vehicles in Florida.

Approximately 75% of adult drivers in Gulf County commute to and from their places of employment by themselves, and roughly 2 out 5 of those drivers will be behind the wheel for more than half an hour for at least 5 days a week.

About 1 in 5 Florida-based drivers do not have auto insurance coverage, and this implies that around 2,000 vehicles in Gulf County could possibly be uninsured or underinsured. Aside from this, around every 10th traffic accident in Gulf County is a hit and run.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Gulf County

Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Gulf County statistically occur at a rate of 16.42 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 2 fatal crashes per year.

In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 152 crashes in Gulf County: 1 fatal crash that caused 1 death. Studies have shown that in 5% of traffic-related fatalities, alcohol was a significant factor — which is the lowest percentage in the state of Florida.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Close to 10 thousand vehicles registered in Gulf County are required to have at least the mandatory coverages. Basic Liability and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverages are required for all vehicles on the road to protect others from the damage you may cause in an accident. Aside from the mandatory minimum, the vehicle type and its use may prompt vehicle owners to purchase additional coverage such as: Private Auto, Non owners car insurance, Gap, Inland Marine, Commercial or Farm Transportation, Short term car insurance, and so on.
2. The majority of Gulf County is rural, and although vehicles that utilize rural roads are less susceptible to vehicular collisions, wildlife-vehicle collisions are more likely to happen — this is especially true for Florida with its diverse ecosystem, where animals (such as deer, black bears, alligators, and various birds) frequently cross the road. According to a study reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), there has been a 86% increase in the black bear population in the East Panhandle region of Florida from 2002 to 2015, making rural road crossings more likely. Although Personal Injury Protection coverage can cover your medical expenses and loss of income, having Comprehensive Auto insurance will help with the cost of repairing the car after hitting an animal.
3. With every 10th crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Gulf County residents.

To discuss your auto insurance needs in Gulf County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.

Gulf County Housing

There are around 10,000 homes in Gulf County and about 75% of them are inhabited by their owners, and 25% are rentals. This owner-occupied rate is almost 10 percentage points lower than the Florida state average of 65%. Looking at the neighboring counties, Calhoun County has the highest owner-occupied rate in the area at 81%, while Bay County has the lowest at 65%.

About 16% of the homes in Gulf County encounter housing problems, overcrowding, substandard plumbing, or kitchen problems. In 1 out of 4 homes, residents dedicate more than 50% of their income to housing expenses.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. Around 10 thousand residential units in Gulf County need insurance coverage. At a minimum, all owners of these properties ought to have Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for apartment complexes) to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.
2. With almost 3 thousand homes as rentals, landlords in Gulf County take out Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
3. Tenants secure Renters Insurance coverage to protect their belongings from possible damage or loss. Typically, renters’ insurance is affordable and usually covers the tenant's property from theft and damages caused by fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Some landlords in Gulf County may require Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
4. Gulf County is located on the coast of Gulf of Mexico, not far from one of the main hurricane formation areas in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricanes bring in primarily wind and flood damage. The highest probability of a hurricane occurrence in Gulf County is between early June and the end of November. Every Florida resident should be aware of the procedures and safeguards set in place by the local County and State agencies. All homeowners, landlords, and renters in Gulf County need to maintain appropriate insurance coverage to protect their property against possible loss and property damage from wind and water.

For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of property insurance in Gulf County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.

A Florida P&C insurance agent:

• analyzes your needs and restrictions,
• reviews your current policy, to make sure that the coverages are reflective of the current needs and housing market- helps to update, if needed,
• checks for available savings and bundling discounts,
• 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
• does not affect your cost of insurance. (agent’s service is usually paid by the insurer)

Gulf County Health

Approximately 15% of the adult population in Gulf County do not have proper health insurance coverage — this percentage is lower than the Florida state average of 19%. Within its area, Gulf County has the lowest rate, followed by Liberty County with 16%, while Franklin County has the highest figure at 20%. Across Florida, Hendry County has the highest figure in Florida at 35%, while St. Johns County has the lowest rate at 13%.
Approximately 21% (≈2,600) of Gulf County residents experience health issues. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 21% smoke, 24% consume too much alcohol, and around 32% of the residents do not exercise regularly.
The fact that nearly 1 in 3 Gulf County residents does not exercise regularly contributes to Gulf County’s 33% obesity rate (BMI of 30 or more) — this rate is above the Florida average of 27%. Among the neighboring counties, Liberty County has the highest obesity rate at 40%, while Bay County has the least number of obese residents in the region, at 30%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Gulf County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health marketplace.

Health Insurance Analysis

1. Health insurance is the most important type of insurance coverage as its function is to pay for expenses that keep you alive and healthy. But despite this fact, about 1,500 residents (below 65 years old) of Gulf County do not have proper health insurance coverage.
2. Florida residents have the ability to purchase multiple types of major medical health insurance and supplemental health insurance that picks up the slack for the main policy. This makes it easier to obtain coverage that fits each individual’s specific needs (both medically and financially): Group or Individual Marketplace ACA health insurance, Various types of Short Term insurance (up to 3 years in coverage), Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Accident & Health, etc.
3. Low-income Gulf County residents may not have the resources to purchase proper health insurance coverage. If this is the case, they could apply for government-funded assistance programs that could lower the total cost of health insurance.
4. If you do not have pre-existing conditions, short-term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path. (* Some Florida 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 knowledgeable state-licensed Florida health insurance professional with access to a variety of health insurance options available to Gulf County residents. Offerings of health insurance 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.

Gulf County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics

The average Gulf County resident has a lifespan of 75.9 years old, which is 4 years shorter compared to the Florida average of 80.2 years. Among its peer counties, Franklin County has the longest life expectancy of 77.3 years, while Calhoun County has the shortest at 75.4 years old.
In the entire state of Florida, Collier County has the longest average life expectancy at 86 years old, while the shortest average is recorded in Union County, at under 69 years old.
In 2022 there were approximately 3,400 seniors (65 and older) residing in Gulf County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
2. Age weighs heavily on life insurance premium rates. The higher the age, the higher the cost of life insurance. This is why young adults are generally advised to secure a life insurance policy while they are still young and healthy.
3. Roughly 24% of the adults in Gulf County smoke, and this habit will likely negatively affect the life insurance premiums of these individuals by up to 4 times compared to non-smokers. A smoker is considered more susceptible to developing fatal diseases that make them a higher risk to life insurance carriers.
4. Permanent Life Insurance also has a cash value component, which can be used while the insured is still alive: to borrow against, for emergency expenses, or as a tax-free retirement income.

Gulf County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The family and friends of a deceased Gulf County resident could possibly spend around $6,800 for the immediate funeral of their loved one. This average funeral cost is significantly higher than the Florida average of $5,900. Among the neighbors, Franklin County has the most expensive average at $7,700. Bay County has the most affordable funeral cost average in the area at $5,300.
Across Florida, Collier County’s average of $9,600 is deemed as the most expensive in Florida, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest figures, both at closer to $4,600.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. With 46% of Americans passing away with savings of less than $10,000, the family and friends of Gulf County senior residents may have to figure out how to pay for the funeral instead of mourning their loss. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
2. On top of the funeral cost, the deceased often leave outstanding loans and taxes for the family to deal with, which makes the family’s financial hurdles more difficult.
3. In most cases, Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance (FE) can help cover “final expenses”of up to $50,000.
4. 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, several types of Universal Life insurance, and Final Expense life insurance (FE).
   To get advice regarding life insurance in Gulf County, reach out to a knowledgeable and Florida-licensed life insurance agent who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison on a case-by-case basis.

Gulf County - Business

Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the nearly 500 business establishments in Gulf County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 57% of all employment in 2020 were:

• Government (24.8%)
• Manufacturing (19.2%)
• Professional & Business Services (12.6%)

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Manufacturing businesses usually require insurance coverage for:

• Employees’ health and welfare
• Production facilities, tools, supplies, and other property
• Product liability coverage to protect the company itself if their product hurts the consumer, etc.

1. Over 50 professional services and consulting businesses in the county can benefit from professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O Insurance), that protects their clients in case the professional advice they give causes damages or losses.
   To assess your business insurance needs in Gulf County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium financing options.