Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County - Driving Statistics and Analysis

The roads of Lackawanna County are home to approximately 179,557 personal and commercial vehicles. This amounts to roughly 2% of the total vehicles registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

About 79% of adult residents in Lackawanna County travel to work by themselves. Nearly 23% of these trips take more than half an hour.

Motor Vehicle Crashes in Lackawanna County

Traffic-related fatalities in Lackawanna County statistically occur at a rate of 11 per 100,000 vehicles on the road; around 20 fatal crashes yearly.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, (PennDOT), in 2021 there were 2,467 crashes in Lackawanna County, with 19 of them fatal. Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for about 24% of fatalities in Lackawanna County.

Auto Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 180 thousand vehicles registered in Lackawanna County need insurance coverage: Property Damage and Bodily Injury Liability are state-mandated coverages for all vehicles, and operating a car without one is illegal. Depending on the type of automobiles and usage (commercial or private), the additional required insurance may be, Ride - sharing, Comprehensive Coverage, Private Auto, Commercial Auto, Non - owners Car Insurance, Commercial Transportation, Gap, Inland Marine, Temporary Car Insurance, etc.

2. Although Pennsylvania is a “no-fault” state, where bodily injury is covered by its own insurance, the Commonwealth allows drivers to opt-out of the “no-fault” coverage under the “choice no-fault” stipulation. In addition, Pennsylvania's modified comparative negligence law stipulates that the amount of damage an insurer must pay is proportional to the degree of fault of each party in an accident.

3. The amount of vehicles on Lackawanna County roads continues to increase year after year, and while the uninsured rate of drivers in Pennsylvania stays around 7%, the sheer presence of a large volume of automobiles on heavily congested roads suggests the need for Uninsured Motorist coverage. With the assumption of 7% uninsured, over 12 thousand vehicles in Lackawanna County could be uninsured. You simply never know how much coverage the car next to you will have, until you’ve had an accident with them.

To evaluate your auto insurance requirements and to find affordable car insurance in Lackawanna County, contact a knowledgeable Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.

Lackawanna County - Housing Statistics and Analysis

Lackawanna County’s 101,317 housing units are mostly inhabited by homeowners (64%) as opposed to renters (36%). Lackawanna County’s owner-occupied rate is the lowest among its immediate neighbors, with Wayne County having the highest rate in the region. The average homeownership in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is around 69%.

Statewide, Pike County has the highest homeownership rate, with 84% of homes inhabited by the owner, while Philadelphia County is the Commonwealth’s leader with the highest percentage of its real estate for rent (47%).

Around 1 in 6 housing units in Lackawanna County report housing problems like overcrowding, inadequate plumbing, or kitchen concerns. In nearly 13% of dwellings, residents spend more than half of their income on housing.

Housing Insurance Analysis

1. More than 100 thousand housing units in Lackawanna County need insurance coverage. All the owners of these properties should have at least Homeowners, Condo insurance, and/or Business property insurance (for multi-housing units) to protect the underlying financial investment from possible loss or damage.

2. With roughly 36 thousand housing units in Lackawanna County listed as rentals, Landlord Insurance is obtained by landlords to safeguard the property itself from the possible liability claims that can arise from the tenants and their guests. If you rent your home, your insurer must know about it, or your claims can be denied.

3. Renters Insurance Scranton: Tenants obtain Renters Insurance to safeguard their belongings from potential loss or damage while residing in a leased dwelling. Average renters' insurance is quite affordable and usually protects the tenant's properties against theft and damage from fire, smoke, water, and vandalism. Most Lackawanna County landlords will need renter's insurance as part of the lease condition.

For consultation and to get a quote on Homeowners, Renters, Condo, Flood, and other types of insurance in Lackawanna County, contact a Property & Casualty (P&C) insurance agent licensed by the state of Pennsylvania.

A Pennsylvania 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,

• researches the locally available plans that fit your needs and is usually able to find a better deal than a consumer can find on their own,

• checks for available savings and bundling discounts,

• 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.

Lackawanna County - Health Statistics and Analysis

In Lackawanna County, approximately 8% of adults under the age of 65 are uninsured, which is identical to the commonwealth average. Among its peer counties, Susquehanna County, Monroe County, and Luzerne County post the highest uninsured rate in the region, while the lowest rate is in Wyoming County.

The highest uninsured adult rate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is in Juniata County, with nearly 12%. In contrast, the lowest rate is observed in Butler County, at around 5% of the adult residents.

Close to 19% of Lackawanna County residents report health problems. In addition, nearly 28% of its population do not engage in physical exercise activities, contributing to around 35% of the residents being considered obese (with a BMI of 30 or more). Among Lackawanna County’s immediate neighbors, the highest obesity rate is reported in Monroe County and Susquehanna County, both with nearly 36%, while the lowest is seen in Luzerne County, at around 33% — similar to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania average.

In 2022, 52,658 Lackawanna County residents were enrolled in Medicare, with the following utilization:

In 2022, there were 13 health insurers in Lackawanna County, offering affordable and frequently subsidized ACA health insurance on the Pennie, Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange.

Health Insurance Analysis

1. In Lackawanna County, over 15 thousand residents do not have the most important insurance coverage: health insurance.

2. Pennsylvania is among the states that allow the sale of multiple types of health insurance and supplemental health insurance. This makes it easier for Lackawanna County residents to purchase coverage that fits their 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 Insurance, Accident & Health insurance, etc.

3. Low-income health insurance: If health insurance is not obtained due to its high price, low-income residents of Lackawanna County are generally advised to apply for government-funded health insurance subsidies, which can significantly lower the health insurance costs.

4. Short - term health insurance may provide an alternative saving path if you do not have pre-existing conditions. (TIP: Some Pennsylvania multi-year short-term health insurance plans may cover certain pre-existing conditions after a year or more of coverage).

Talk about your health insurance needs with a knowledgeable, state-licensed health insurance professional in Pennsylvania who has access to a variety of health insurance plans available to residents of Lackawanna County. The availability and cost of health insurance coverage may vary between zip codes.

A Pennsylvania health insurance agent: analyzes your health 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 researches the available discounts and bundling options, assists you with the application process, and at any time you need to make a change to the policy, or shop for replacement coverage.

Lackawanna County - End of Life Statistics and Analysis

In Lackawanna County, the average lifespan of residents is around 76.6 years, which is shorter than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania average of 78 years. Among the neighboring counties, Susquehanna County has the longest average life expectancy in the region, while the shortest average is in Luzerne County.

Across Pennsylvania, the longest average life expectancy is observed in Centre County, at over 82 years old, while the shortest average is seen in Fayette County, at under 75 years old.

In 2022, approximately 43,030 seniors (65 and older) were residing in Lackawanna County.

Life Insurance Facts

1. In 2022, 47% of Americans did not have an active life insurance policy of any type.

2. Life insurance premiums are calculated depending on a person's age when the policy begins, among other factors, which means the younger you are when you get it, the more you save in premiums over the duration of the policy.

3. Roughly 1 in 5 adults in Lackawanna County smoke, and this habit will likely affect the life insurance costs of nearly 35 thousand adults, who may have to pay up to 4 times more compared to those who do not smoke. A smoker’s life expectancy is deemed shorter, making them more of a risk than people who do not smoke.

4. Aside from the death benefit, Cash Value life insurance can be used for Living Benefits by the insured while they are still alive, to borrow against it, or even used as a source of tax-free retirement income.

Lackawanna County - Funeral Expenses Statistics and Analysis

The average funeral cost in Lackawanna County is around $5,100, which is lower than the Pennsylvania state average of $6,700 but not the lowest among its nearby counties. Looking at its neighbors, Monroe County has a higher average funeral at $6,900, while Luzerne County has a more cost-effective average, at $4,800.

In the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Clinton County has the most affordable funerals averaging more or less $4,700, while Bucks County’s average is the most expensive in Pennsylvania, at $11,700.

Life Insurance Analysis

1. Nearly 46% of Americans die with less than $10,000 in savings, which means nearly 20 thousand senior residents of Lackawanna County could be placing their family and friends in a difficult financial situation. While grieving their loss, the family usually needs to plan and settle the funeral costs as well.

2. Aside from the burial cost, the deceased may also leave taxes and other bills for the family to take care of. Discuss your senior life insurance options with a licensed Pennsylvania life insurance professional.

3. Indexed Universal Life (IUL) is the most preferred life insurance policy to use for its living benefits and retirement financing.

4. The most frequently used life insurance policies to cover “final expenses” up to $50,000 are: Term Life Insurance and Final Expense (also known as Burial insurance).

5. 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, Final Expense (FE), and multiple Universal Life insurance policies.

To learn more about life insurance alternatives and to get life insurance quotes in Lackawanna County, consult with a knowledgeable state-licensed, experienced, and qualified life insurance professional who has access to several insurers and plan types for comparison.

Lackawanna County - Business

Commercial insurance needs differ between each of the over 5.5 thousand business establishments in Lackawanna County. The three largest job-creating sectors, accounting for nearly 44% of all employment in the county in 2022 were:

• Health Care & Social Assistance - 21.1%

• Retail Trade - 12.1%

• Manufacturing - 10.7%

Commercial Insurance Analysis

1. Every business in Lackawanna County needs insurance based on what it does and the number of people it employs. The coverage mostly falls into:

   • Commercial Property,

   • Business Liability, and

   • Employee Protection and Benefits.

2. Health care professionals can benefit from Medical malpractice coverage, which protects both the patients and the insured medical professionals.

3. Retail businesses in Lackawanna County are primarily insured against customer liabilities that come from using the retail location or by interacting with the products and to protect the property, inventory, and staff.

4. Manufacturing businesses need insurance to protect the production facilities and the workers and get product liability coverage to protect the company itself in case their product hurts someone or something.

To assess your business insurance needs in Lackawanna County and to get a commercial insurance quote, speak with a knowledgeable Pennsylvania-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.