Marion County
Driving in Marion County
There are approximately 314,928 registered private and commercial vehicles in Marion County, which constitutes about 1.74% of all the registered vehicles in Florida.
It is estimated that 4 out of 5 vehicles used for daily commutes to work in Marion County only contain the driver and no one else. About 34% of these vehicles are on the road for more than 30 minutes for each trip.
About 20% of Florida-based drivers do not have auto insurance coverage, and this suggests that around 63,000 vehicles in Marion County could possibly be uninsured or underinsured. On top of this, around every 4th traffic accident in Marion County is a hit and run.
Motor Vehicle Crashes in Marion County
Deaths caused by vehicular collisions in Marion County statistically occur at a rate of 22.09 per 100,000 vehicles on the road: approximately 67 fatal crashes per year.
In 2021, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 7,127 crashes in Marion County: 83 fatal crashes that caused 92 deaths (including 21 motorcyclists). Studies have shown that in 30% of traffic-related fatalities, alcohol was a key factor.
Auto Insurance Analysis
Roughly 315 thousand vehicles registered in Marion 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: Comprehensive, Collision, Non-owners car insurance, Gap, Ride-sharing, Commercial Transportation, and so on.
About 160 thousand individuals operating a separate vehicle in one area increases insurance premium rates. Thousands of cars sharing the roads of Marion County at the same time raises the probability of a vehicular collision.
The long daily commute of roughly 68 thousand Marion County residents is another factor that increases auto insurance premium rates. Being on the road for an extended period increases the likelihood of a vehicular collision.
With every 4th crash as a hit-and-run and with 20% of drivers uninsured, Uninsured Driver Coverage remains essential for Marion County residents.
To discuss your auto insurance needs in Marion County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Florida.
Marion County Housing
Marion County has approximately 180,490 housing properties, and the property owners live in about 75% of these dwelling units. This rate is much higher than the Florida average of 65%. The counties surrounding Marion County are also dominated by owner-occupied homes, with Sumter County having the highest percentage at 90%, which means that 1 in 10 homes is a rental. Alachua County is at the bottom of the owner-occupied list with 55%, where every other home is a rental.
About 14% of the homes in Marion 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 180 thousand residential units in Marion 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 45 thousand homes in Marion 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 Ocala: Tenants get Home Renters Insurance, which provides personal property coverage to their belongings (furniture and personal possessions) from possible damage or loss while residing in a rental. 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 Marion County may require Renters Insurance before putting pen to paper on a lease.
For consultation and advice about Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of property insurance in Marion 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)
Marion County Health
Approximately 21% of the Marion County adult population do not have proper health insurance coverage, which is a worse figure than the Florida average of 19%. In the region, Putnam County has the highest uninsured adult rate at 22%, while Sumter County and Alachua County have the lowest numbers at 13%.
Across Florida, Hendry County has the highest figure at 35%, while St. Johns County has the lowest rate at 13%.
Approximately 1 out of 5 (≈88,000) Marion County residents experience health issues. This is partially due to the fact that among the adult population, 21% smoke, 17% drink too much alcohol, and over 33% of the residents are physically inactive, even though 76% of the population have access to places where physical exercise can be done.
Lack of regular exercise is possibly one of the reasons why 33% of Marion County adults are obese (BMI of 30 or more) — this rate is higher than the Florida average of 27%. Among the neighbors, Putnam County has the highest obesity rate at 39%, while Alachua County has the lowest number at 27%.
In 2022, there were 14 health insurers in Marion County offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Florida health 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, over 58 thousand residents (below 65 years old) of Marion County do not have proper health insurance coverage.
Florida residents have the ability to purchase multiple types of major medical health insurance and supplemental plans that pick 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.
Health insurance could possibly be beyond the financial capabilities of low-income Marion County residents. If this is the case, they can apply for government assistance to lower the cost of insurance.
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 Marion 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.
Marion County Mortality and the End of Life Statistics
The average life expectancy in Florida is 80 years old, and Marion County’s average is almost 4 years shorter at 76.3. Among the adjacent counties, Sumter County has the longest average at 80.4 years old, while Putnam County has the shortest at 73.9.
In Florida, Collier County has the longest life expectancy average at 86 years old, and Union County has the shortest at 69 years.
In 2022 there were approximately 111,000 seniors (65 and older) residing in Marion County.
Life Insurance Facts
In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.
Life insurance companies factor in the applicant’s age when calculating the premium rates. The higher the age is, the higher the premiums. Taking out a life insurance policy at a younger age can save the insured money in premiums.
Over 21% of the adults in Marion County smoke, and this habit will likely negatively affect the life insurance premiums of over 65,000 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.
Marion County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis
A traditional funeral in Marion County can cost around $6,500, and this average cost is the highest when compared to the neighboring counties. Among the peer counties, Lake County and Levy County are at par with the Florida average of $5,900. Putnam County has the least expensive funeral cost average at $4,600. In fact, it is tied with DeSoto County for having the least expensive average in Florida, while Collier County has the most expensive estimate at $9,600.
Life Insurance Analysis
With 46% of Americans dying with savings of less than $10,000, the family and friends of approximately 51 thousand Marion County senior residents may have to put their grief on hold to make sure that the funeral expenses will be settled. (Note: If using life insurance as payment for the funeral services, most funeral homes require the policy to be “assignable”)
Aside from the funeral cost, the departed often leave outstanding loans and taxes for the family to deal with, which adds more to the family’s financial worries.
In most cases, Term Life Insurance and Final Expense Insurance 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, Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance, and Final Expense (FE).
To get advice regarding life insurance in Marion County and help lighten the load for your family after your passing - 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.
Marion County - Business
Commercial insurance needs vary between each of the over 9 thousand business establishments in Marion County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for approximately 56% of all employment in 2020 were:
Manufacturing (24.3%)
Professional and Business Services (17.0%)
Government (14.2%)
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, etc.
About 2 thousand professional services and consulting businesses in Marion County can benefit from professional liability insurance, also known as Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O insurance). E&O insurance protects their clients in case the professional advice they give causes damages or losses.
To assess your business insurance needs in Marion County, speak with a knowledgeable Florida-licensed commercial insurance agent with access to multiple insurers and premium financing options.
