Question 1

Where does this insurance cost data come from?

Accepted Answer

Our insurance metrics are compiled from multiple authoritative sources including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), state insurance departments, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HealthCare.gov marketplace data, and the Insurance Information Institute. Data is updated annually.

Question 2

How accurate are these insurance cost estimates?

Accepted Answer

These figures represent state averages and may vary significantly based on individual factors like age, credit score, claims history, coverage levels, and location within the state. Use these as benchmarks for comparison, not exact quotes.

Question 3

Why do insurance costs vary so much between states?

Accepted Answer

Insurance costs vary due to state regulations, lawsuit environments, natural disaster risk, population density, healthcare costs, repair costs, fraud rates, and minimum coverage requirements. States with no-fault auto insurance or high litigation rates typically have higher premiums.

Question 4

What does 'vs. National Average' mean?

Accepted Answer

The 'vs. National Average' percentage shows how a state's average premium compares to the US national average. A value of +15% means that state's average is 15% higher than the national average, while -20% means it's 20% lower.

Question 5

How often is this data updated?

Accepted Answer

We update our insurance metrics database annually, typically in Q1 when new industry data becomes available. The 'Last Updated' date at the top of each metric indicates when that specific data was refreshed.

Question 6

Can I use this data for my own research?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this data is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. You may use, share, and adapt the data with proper attribution to PolicyPath. For commercial use or bulk data access, please contact us.

Question 7

Why might my actual insurance quote differ from these averages?

Accepted Answer

State averages include all demographics and coverage levels. Your personal factors significantly impact your rate: a 20-year-old driver pays roughly 3x more than a 40-year-old, high-risk areas within states can be 50%+ higher, and coverage choices (deductibles, limits) create wide variations.

Question 8

What's included in the auto insurance average?

Accepted Answer

Auto insurance averages reflect full coverage policies including liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage with typical limits of 100/300/100 and $500 deductibles. Liability-only policies would be significantly cheaper.

Question 9

What's the ACA benchmark premium?

Accepted Answer

The ACA benchmark is the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in each state's marketplace. It's used to calculate premium tax credits. The figures shown are for a 40-year-old non-smoker before any subsidies - most enrollees pay less after tax credits.

Question 10

What's included in the home insurance average?

Accepted Answer

Home insurance averages are based on policies for a $300,000 dwelling coverage with standard deductibles. Actual costs vary significantly based on home value, age, construction type, and location-specific risks like flood zones or wildfire areas.

Question 11

How do I use the interactive insurance cost map?

Accepted Answer

Select an insurance type (auto, health, or home) from the dropdown menu. The map will color-code states from green (lowest costs) to red (highest costs). Hover over any state to see exact costs, state ranking, and comparison to national average. Click a state to visit its detailed insurance guide.

Question 12

What do the colors on the insurance map mean?

Accepted Answer

Green states have below-average insurance costs, yellow states are near the national average, and red/orange states have above-average costs. The color intensity indicates how far from average - dark green means significantly cheaper, dark red means significantly more expensive.

Question 13

Can I download the insurance cost data?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the complete dataset is available at /data/insurance-metrics.json in JSON format. The data is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, so you can use it freely with attribution to PolicyPath.

Question 14

Which state has the cheapest insurance overall?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the insurance type. Maine has the cheapest auto insurance ($864/year), New Hampshire has the cheapest health insurance ($332/month), and Vermont has the cheapest home insurance ($855/year). No single state is cheapest across all categories.

Question 15

Which state has the most expensive insurance overall?

Accepted Answer

Michigan has the most expensive auto insurance ($3,096/year), Wyoming has the most expensive health insurance ($867/month), and Oklahoma has the most expensive home insurance ($4,899/year). States with high natural disaster risk or unique regulations tend to have higher costs.

Question 16

How much could I save by moving to a cheaper state?

Accepted Answer

Savings vary dramatically. Moving from Michigan to Maine could save $2,232/year on auto insurance alone. Moving from Oklahoma to Vermont could save $4,044/year on home insurance. However, other cost-of-living factors should be considered alongside insurance costs.

Question 17

What coverage levels are these averages based on?

Accepted Answer

Auto insurance averages are for full coverage (100/300/100 liability + comprehensive + collision with $500 deductible). Health insurance is the ACA Silver benchmark for a 40-year-old. Home insurance is for $300,000 dwelling coverage with standard deductibles.

Question 18

Are these averages for individuals or families?

Accepted Answer

Auto and home insurance averages are per-policy regardless of household size. Health insurance figures are for individual coverage - family plans typically cost 2-3x more depending on household size and ages.

Question 19

Do these figures include discounts?

Accepted Answer

These are average premiums across all policyholders, which includes those receiving discounts and those not. Individual rates may be lower with multi-policy bundles, good driver discounts, or other savings.

Question 20

Why is my state's rank different for different insurance types?

Accepted Answer

Each insurance type has different cost drivers. A state might be cheap for auto (low population density, good roads) but expensive for home (hurricane or tornado risk). State regulations, healthcare costs, and natural disaster exposure all affect different insurance types differently.

Metric	Primary Source	Secondary Sources
Auto Insurance	NAIC Market Reports	State DOI filings, industry surveys
Health Insurance	CMS, HealthCare.gov	State marketplace data
Home Insurance	NAIC, III	State rate filings

Insurance Cost Metrics by State

Contents

Insurance Cost Metrics by State

Interactive Cost Map

Available Metrics

Auto Insurance

Health Insurance (ACA Marketplace)

Home Insurance

Data Access

Data Structure

Methodology

Data Sources

Update Schedule

Limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

Copyright

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