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Insurance in Buffalo

Data source: US Census year 2000

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Uninsured in Erie County

Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County.

One out of ten people in Erie County (9.5%) lack health insurance. In the state of New York, 14.1% are without.

Among the population under 18 years in Erie County, 5.4% are uninsured, while the figure for New York is 9.5%.

in 2005, 85% of Americans had some medical expense, spending on average $1,166.

Crime and Safety in Buffalo

Cities are generally less safe to live in than small towns. Violent crime in Buffalo is 224.2% higher per capita, than in the U.S. as a whole. The per-capita rate of property crime in Buffalo is 79.6% higher than nationally.

There are 5203 people living in restricted group quarters such as correctional facilities, nursing homes, and mental hospitals in Buffalo (2% of the population).

Accidents

Commuting to work is a fact of life for most Americans. In 2000, 80% of Buffalo residents drove to work, and 12% used public transport. 5% walked to work, and 0% rode a bicycle. While keeping active is vital for good health, unprotected forms of transportation also puts you at greater risk in traffic.

In the United States, 10% or Emergency Room visits in 2005 was due to traffic accidents. The most common injury was due to falls, totalling 21% of ER visits.

Buffalo, New York Health Insurance

With a health insurance plan, your medical costs will be reduced, and a plan that includes regular checkups lowers your likelihood of developing serious health problems. As an added bonus, doctors charge people with health insurance less, since insurance companies negotiate discounts.

Getting an individual health insurance plan doesn't have to be expensive and complicated. With average premiums for single coverage reaching $373 per month ($4,479 annually) in 2007, and familty premiums soaring to $1,009 per month ($12,106 annually), the incentive to find cheap alternatives is higher than ever. Yougotinsured.com is dedicated to help you find ways to save, while retaining the security of a high coverage level.Yougotinsured.com is dedicated to help you find ways to save, while retaining the security of a high coverage level.

One way to pay smaller premiums is to sign up for a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), an alternative gaining popularity among employers who offer health benefits.

While most Americans have health insurance coverage through their employer, there are trends in the opposite direction. As the economy transforms, and employers rely more on part-time and contract labor, fewer employees are eligible for health benefits. Among firms who offer health benefits, 79% of workers were eligible in 2007. Among both firms that offer and don't offer health benefits, a total of only 59% of workers were actually covered by their employer.

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Local Health Insurance Agents in Buffalo, New York

Kasperek, John D - State Farm Insurance Agent
(716) 822-2241
2156 South Park Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14220-2232
Lott, Tamaris C - State Farm Insurance Agent
(716) 835-9393
2631 Main St
Buffalo, New York 14214-2015
Santiago, Luis A - State Farm Insurance Agent
(716) 883-5500
555 Niagara Street
Buffalo, New York 14201-1107
Scherrer, Martin G - State Farm Insurance Agent
(716) 876-4767
2161 Sheridan Drive
Buffalo, New York 14223-1473
Ward, James L - State Farm Insurance Agent
(716) 873-3771
1335 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14216-2832

Glossary of Terms

Coinsurance: amount you have to pay for medical care in a fee-for-service plan after you have reached the deductible. The coinsurance rate is usually written as a percentage. For example, if the insurance company pays 80 percent of the claim, you pay 20 percent.
Coordination of Benefits: A system to eliminate duplication of benefits when you are covered under more than one group plan. Benefits under the two plans usually are limited to no more than 100 percent of the claim.
Copayment: Another way of sharing medical costs. You pay a flat fee every time you receive a medical service (for example, $5 for every visit to the doctor). The insurance company pays the rest.
Covered Expenses: Most insurance plans, whether they are fee-for-service, HMOs, or PPOs, do not pay for all services. Some may not pay for prescription drugs. Others may not pay for mental health care. Covered services are those medical procedures the insurer agrees to pay for. They are listed in the policy.
Customary fee: Most insurance plans will pay only what they call a reasonable and customary fee for a particular service. If your doctor charges $1,000 for a hernia repair while most doctors in your area charge only $600, you will be billed for the $400 difference.
Deductible: The amount of money you must pay each year to cover your medical care expenses before your insurance policy starts paying.
Exclusions: Specific conditions or circumstances for which the policy will not provide benefits.
Fee-for-Service: The insurer only pays for part of your doctor and hospital bills. This is the traditional kind of health care policy. Insurance companies pay fees for the services provided to the insured people covered by the policy. This type of health insurance offers the most choices of doctors and hospitals.
HDHP: High-Deductible Health Plan. With this type of plan, you pay a smaller premium, but have to pay a larger amount out of your own pocket when you use medical services.
HMO: (Health Maintenance Organization): Prepaid health plans. You pay a monthly premium and the HMO covers your doctors’ visits, hospital stays, emergency care, surgery, checkups, lab tests, x-rays, and therapy. You must use the doctors and hospitals designated by the HMO.
Institutionalized: People under formally authorized, supervised care or custody in institutions (for example, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and mental hospitals). Generally, restricted to the institution, under the care or supervision of trained staff, and classified as "patients" or "inmates."
Kaiser: Figure refers to employer-based health insurance. Individual plans may be more expensive. ("Employer Health Benefits 2007 Annual Survey" (#7672), The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation & HRET, September 2007)
Managed Care: Ways to manage costs, use, and quality of the health care system. All HMOs and PPOs, and many fee-for-service plans, have managed care.
Maximum Out-of-Pocket: The most money you will be required pay a year for deductibles and coinsurance. It is a stated dollar amount set by the insurance company, in addition to regular premiums.
Noncancelable Policy: A policy that guarantees you can receive insurance, as long as you pay the premium. It is also called a guaranteed renewable policy.
PPO: (Preferred Provider Organization): A combination of traditional fee-for-service and an HMO. When you use the doctors and hospitals that are part of the PPO, you can have a larger part of your medical bills covered. You can use other doctors, but at a higher cost.
Preexisting Condition: A health problem that existed before the date your insurance became effective.
Premium: The amount you or your employer pays in exchange for insurance coverage.
Primary Care Doctor: Usually your first contact for health care. This is often a family physician or internist, but some women use their gynecologist. A primary care doctor monitors your health and diagnoses and treats minor health problems, and refers you to specialists if another level of care is needed.
Property crime: Property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The objective of the theft crimes is the unlawful taking of money or property, and does not include use or threat of force against the victims.
Provider: Any person (doctor, nurse, dentist) or institution (hospital or clinic) that provides medical care.
Race: Race is a self-identification data item in which respondents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify. [US Census]
Single Coverage: Health insurance that covers medical expenses for one person.
Third-Party Payer: Any payer for health care services other than you. This can be an insurance company, an HMO, a PPO, or the Federal Government.
Violent crime: Violent crime includes four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes involve force or threat of force.

References

US Census Bureau - http://www.census.gov
Kaiser Family Foundation - http://www.kff.org

Buffalo Facts

Data source: US Census year 2000

Population

Population in Buffalo is 257,758.

51% of Buffalo residents are White, 40% are African-American, 4% are of some other race, 3% are a mix of two or more races, 2% are Asian, and 1% are Native American.

Economy

The median income in Buffalo is $24,826 for men, and $21,054 for women.

Compared to the typical person in the state of New York, a resident of Buffalo makes 27.3% less. The trend for New York is that the median income is increasing. (2006)

36,499 people (14% of the population) were living on an income below the poverty level as of 2006. The poverty in Buffalo was increasing compared to the year before.

The typical home is worth $60,900. 39% of Buffalo homeowners own their home outright, paying typically $430 per month in owner costs. Among those with a mortgage (61% of homeowners), the median monthly owner cost is $989. (2006)

Housing

There are a total of 143,373 homes in Buffalo. Of these, 2,401 were for sale, and 7,521 homes were available to rent in 2006. 48,903 (44%) were owner-occupied, and 61,823 (56%) were occupied by renters. (2006)

Age

The median age for men in Buffalo is 34, and in New York the average man lives to be 75. The median age for women in Buffalo is 37, and women in New York live to be 80, on average. (2006)

Education

The education level in Buffalo is low compared to the national average.

Among men over 25, 27% has a college degree, and 19% has some college. Out of the men that didn't study in college, 58% graduated from High School, and 42% dropped out.

Among women over 25, 30% has a college degree, and 18% has some college. Out of the women that didn't study in college, 58% graduated from High School, and 42% dropped out. (2006)