How much does it cost to live in Kentucky?
Home to 4.462 Million citizens, Kentucky has the 5th lowest overall cost of living when compared to all other states. According to Bureau of Economic Analysis data, goods and services in the state cost 12.2% less than they do on a national level.
Cost of Living Parameters
Housing & Rent
On average, Kentucky renters pay $741 per month, $282 less than the national average of $1,023. If you want to buy a house in the state, the typical home value is worth $135,300, $69,600 than the national median home value of $408,800.
Here are some stats on Kentucky Mortgages:
- Homeownership rate: 68.7%
- Homeowner vacancy rate: 1.1%
- Rental vacancy rate: 8.8%
Childcare
In Kentucky, the average annual cost of infant care in Kentucky is $6,411—that’s $534 per month. Child care for a 4-year-old costs $6,411, or $534 each month.
Here’s a look at the >a href=https://www.epi.org/child-care-costs-in-the-united-states/#/KY>annual childcare costs from infant to college:
- Infant: $6,411
- 4-year-old: $6,411
- School: $7,0322
- College: $10,365
Utilities
Apartment utilities refer to the essential services required in a home such as gas, water, electricity, cable, and internet. A Kentucky resident can expect to spend up to $404 per month on apartment utilities on average.
Food & Groceries
A single adult in Kentucky spends an average of $2,932 on food each year, while a family of four's annual food cost reaches $8,467. These figures are based on a nutritionally appropriate diet purchased from a grocery shop and prepared at home.
The average price for eating out would be:
- A basic meal with a drink at an inexpensive restaurant $13
- Fast food combo (Big Mac etc.) $7.35
- Bottle of Coca-Cola $1.95
- Bottle of water $1.19
Grocery shopping in the state would cost as follows:
- Milk (regular), (1 liter) $0.7
- Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) $2.41
- Rice (1 Kg) $4.26
- Eggs (regular) (12) $2.02
- Chicken Fillet (1kg) $8
- 4 Rolls of toilet paper $3.3
- Hair Shampoo $5.01
Transportation
91.7% of commuters in Kentucky drive to work, compared to 85.5% nationally. The average motorist in the state drives 11,055 miles per year. Taking average fuel economy and average gas prices into account, the average motorist in the state can expect to spend $938 on gas alone in a year.
Other transportation expenditures, such as car insurance, also vary by state. According to Insure.com, the average vehicle insurance rate in Kentucky is $1,300, which is less than the national average of $1,517. According to EPI data, the average single adult in the state spends $10,292 on transportation each year.
Average Income & Taxes
The >a href=https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/--in-Kentucky>average yearly income of a single adult living in Kentucky is $55,554 and the estimated state income tax is 9.69%3.
Most Expensive Kentucky Cities to Live in
- Nicholasville
- Lexington-Fayette
- Union
- Burlington
- Louisville
Why is disability insurance important to have in Kentucky?
As shown by the above cost of living study, a steady income is required to live comfortably and worry-free. Whether you work full-time or as a freelancer, getting disability insurance is the first step towards financial stability.
What would happen if you found yourself unable to earn a paycheck because you were too ill or injured to work? According to a recent survey conducted by the personal financial website Bankrate, more than half of Americans (51%) have less than three months' worth of emergency funds.
Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that 62.1% of bankruptcies were caused by medical issues. Other studies show that over 2 million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses.
If medical bills start piling up, you’ll no longer be able to support your lifestyle in other areas as well, especially if your income is on hold. You might find yourself unable to pay for utilities and rent, and that eventually could lead to foreclosure. Half of the foreclosures on conventional mortgages in Kentucky are caused by the disability of one of the homeowners. In fact, the foreclosure rate in the state reaches one in every 17,806households.
A lot of people still think that the need for disability insurance is not top priority, thinking that disability rarely happens, and when it does, it’s only caused by serious accidents. But did you know that up to 90% of disability cases recorded are due to illness, not injury?
With that being said, getting a private disability income insurance should be on top of your to-do list because life is unpredictable and your income shouldn’t be.
Does Kentucky have state disability insurance?
Only 5 states in the U.S. require companies to provide their employees with disability insurance coverage that includes benefits for accidents or illnesses sustained outside of the workplace. Unfortunately, Kentucky is not among these states.
Disability benefits are available to Kentuckians with long-term disabilities through Social Security programs or their employer's worker's compensation insurance. Disabled workers may be eligible to collect benefits through long-term group disability insurance in some cases.
Those seeking disability benefits can choose between two SSA programs. Although the qualifying standards for these programs differ slightly, some applicants may be eligible for both.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program pays benefits to people who have accumulated enough credits in the SSA Trust Fund by working for at least five of the last ten years. (The vast majority of people who qualify for Social Security retirement benefits are also eligible for Social Security disability insurance benefits.)
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides monthly payments to those with low income and assets. Other benefits, such as housing assistance, food stamps, and medical care (Medicaid), may be available to these claimants.
What qualifies as disability in Kentucky?
If you have disability insurance provided by your employer, make sure to double-check the criteria in the agreement that qualify you to receive disability benefits when you’re unable to work. Some of these criteria can include the following:
- You are unable to perform the Substantial and Material Duties of your Regular Occupation as shown on the Schedule and;
- You are under the Regular Care of a Physician appropriate for your disabling Sickness or Injury and;
- There is no reasonable simplified worksite modification(s) that would allow you to perform one or more of the Substantial and Material Duties of your regular job.
How can I easily get disability insurance in Kentucky?
Seeking a private disability insurance policy is the best option in Kentucky. Here at Asteya, we offer disability insurance (or disability income insurance as we like to call it) that’s simple, fast, and affordable. Our 100% digital process means we don’t tire you out with proof of income, medical exams, phone interviews, or wait times.
Who qualifies for disability insurance in Kentucky?
Most insurances are bought to protect homes, vehicles, and health, but our most valuable asset tends to get neglected: our income. 70% of working Americans live paycheck to paycheck, with little savings to buffer the financial burden of a disability that leaves them unable to work.
At Asteya, we offer 2 types of disability income insurance: Permanent Disability Income Insurance and Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance. Please visit asteya.world for more details on the eligibility of our product offering.
How much does disability insurance in Kentucky cost?
Protecting your income shouldn’t be a luxury, so here at Asteya, we’ve created affordable and easy solutions that won’t drain what you’re trying to protect (your income!). Our prices start as low as:
- Permanent Disability Income Insurance: starting at $6.05/month
- Sickness & Injury Disability Income Insurance: starting at $5/month
The bottom line
On average, living in the state of Kentucky will cost you $3,047 per month, give or take – that’s a lot of expenses! You've invested a lot of time and hard work in building a life that works for you, and your hard work shouldn’t be jeopardized due to an accident or illness. That’s why you should protect your lifestyle and your income with DI.
If you're still on the fence about whether disability income insurance is for you (hint: it is), here are a few extra points to consider:
- Asteya’s applications are 100% digital. Unlike other insurers, we don't require blood tests or doctor's appointments and ask you a few minutes of questions to determine your best policy.
- Get paid out directly on an approved claim, and spend without restrictions once it's in your bank account.
- We've made our Income Insurance as inclusive and accessible as possible. From corner store employees to corner office executives, our products were created to fit every budget and lifestyle.