Lee County
Driving in Lee County
It is estimated that roughly 671,850 private and commercial vehicles are registered in Lee County which comprises around 3.72% of all the registered vehicles in Florida.
Approximately 4 out of 5 drivers who commute to work daily in Lee County do so alone, and almost half of these drivers are behind the wheel for over 30 minutes before reaching their respective places of work.
About 1 in 5 Florida-based drivers do not have auto insurance coverage, and this implies that around 130,000 vehicles in Lee County could possibly be uninsured or underinsured. Aside from this, around every 4th traffic accident in Lee County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Lee County
Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Lee County statistically occur at a rate of 14.16 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 102 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 14,336 crashes in Lee County: 112 fatal crashes that caused 119 deaths (including 22 motorcyclists). Studies have shown that in 24% of traffic-related fatalities, alcohol was a significant factor.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Over 670 thousand vehicles registered in Lee 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, Gap, Non-owners car insurance, Inland Marine, Commercial Auto, Short term auto insurance, and so on.
Approximately 340 thousand individuals operating a separate vehicle in one area increases insurance premium rates. The more vehicles sharing the roadways of Lee County, the higher the probability of vehicular collisions taking place.
Roughly 190 thousand Lee County residents are on the road for extended periods, which increases their auto insurance premiums. Being on the road for a longer time means that the window of opportunity of getting involved in a traffic accident is bigger.
With every 4th crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Lee County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Lee County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Lee County Housing
About 65% of homes in Florida are inhabited by the families or individuals who own them, and Lee County and its peer counties follow suit. Approximately 72% of the estimated 430,000 homes in Lee County are owner-occupied.
Among its neighbors, Charlotte County and Glades County have the highest figures in this regard, both at 80%. Hendry County, on the other hand, has a 65% owner-occupied rate, which is similar to the Florida average.
About 18% of the homes in Lee 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
Around 430 thousand residential units in Lee 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.
With approximately 122 thousand homes in Lee County as rentals, landlords take out Landlord Insurance, which covers the property itself and the possible liability claims arising from the tenants and their guests.
Renters insurance Cape Coral: Tenants buy 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 Lee County may require Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
Lee County is located on the coast, 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 Lee 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 Lee County need to maintain appropriate insurance coverage to protect their property against possible loss and damage from wind and water damage.
For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of property insurance in Lee 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)
Lee County Health
Roughly 19% of Floridians do not have proper health insurance coverage, and in Lee County, about 22% lack this vital necessity. Looking at its surrounding counties, Hendry County has the highest uninsured adult rate at 35%, and this is also the highest figure in the state of Florida. Charlotte County has the lowest rate in the region at around 18%. While Hendry County has the highest figure in Florida, St. Johns County has the lowest rate at 13%.
Approximately 20% (≈160,000) of Lee County residents experience health issues. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 19% smoke, 23% consume too much alcohol, and around 25% of the residents do not exercise regularly, even though 88% of the population have access to places where physical exercise can be done.
The fact that 1 in 4 Lee County residents does not exercise regularly contributes to Lee County’s 25% obesity rate (BMI of 30 or more) — this rate is just below the Florida average of 27%. Among the neighboring counties, Glades County has the highest obesity rate at 39%, while Collier has the lowest at 22%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Lee County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida marketplace.
Health Insurance Analysis
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 140 thousand residents (below 65 years old) of Lee County do not have proper health insurance coverage.
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.
Some Lee County residents may not have the funds to purchase health insurance coverage and in these cases, they could apply for government financial assistance to be able to afford this necessity.
If you do not have pre-existing conditions, short-term 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 Lee 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.
Lee County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
Lee County residents have an average life expectancy of 82.5 years — 2 years higher than the Florida average of 80.2. The shortest life expectancy in the region is observed in Hendry County with an average of 78.5 years, while the longest life span is seen in Collier County at 86 years, which is also the highest figure in Florida. The shortest life expectancy in the state is found in Union County at 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 235,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Lee County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Life insurance premiums are calculated with age as one of the most significant factors. The higher it is, the more the applicant will have to pay in premiums. This is why young adults ought to secure a life insurance policy as soon as possible to lock in affordable premiums.
Roughly 19% of the adults in Lee County smoke, and this habit will likely negatively affect the life insurance premiums of over 127,000 adults 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.
Permanent Life Insurance also has a cash value component, which can be used while the insured is still alive. The Living Benefits allow you to borrow against the policy for emergency expenses, to draw on as a tax-free retirement income, or to pay for insurance premiums.
Lee County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
A traditional funeral in Florida can cost around $5,900, which is more affordable in comparison to the average funeral cost in Lee County at $6,700. Among the next-door neighbors, Charlotte County has the most affordable funerals at about $5,500, while Collier County has the most expensive ones at $9,600. In fact, Collier County’s average is usually the most expensive in Florida, while Putnam County and DeSoto County have the lowest figures statewide, both at $4,600.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans passing away with savings of less than $10,000, the family and friends of approximately 108 thousand Lee County senior residents may have to focus on making sure the funeral is paid for, rather than grieving their loss. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
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.
In most cases, Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance (FE) can help cover “final expenses” with a death benefit of up to $50,000.
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 (FE).
To get advice regarding life insurance in Lee County, reach out to a Florida-licensed, knowledgeable life insurance professional who has access to multiple insurers and plan types for comparison on a case-by-case basis.
Lee County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the over 25 thousand business establishments in Lee County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 51% of all employment in 2020 were:
Manufacturing (20.1%)
Government (16.2%)
Education & Health Services (14.3%)
Commercial Insurance Analysis
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, cases some loss, etc.
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 in Lee County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium financing options.
