ble identifies key demographics for the United States as a whole and the state of Florida for 1996 (Health Care System Datasource, 1999, pp. 99, 104):
Most of the individuals living in Broward County in 1998 were between the ages of 25 and 54 years of age, with a similar distribution in the three ten year-age brackets comprising this group. Of all residents in Broward County in 1998, 13.9 percent were between the ages of 25 and 34, 16.2 percent were between the ages of 35 and 44, and 12.4 percent were between the ages of 45 and 54. However, fully 17.4 percent were older than 55 years of age. The following chart illustrates the age breakdown for Broward County in 1998 ("State and County," 1999, p. 38):
In general, these demographics are supportive of Florida as an attractive location for eye care professionals. Older individuals are more likely to require correction than younger individuals, and the type of care changes as patients age. Cataracts and permanent vision correction (such as lasik) are more likely to be required by older rather than younger patients, and patients are more likely to have insurance in areas with higher per capita incomes. In addition, higher per capita incomes also suggest that patients will be able to fund those procedures not covered by insurance companies, or covered on a limited basis. In each of these areas, Florida clearly outpaces the nation as a whole.
Medicaid, which is the federal government assistance to lower income individuals, is based on the federal poverty level. The lower an individual's income, the greater the likelihood that the individual will qualify for Medicaid. In 1996, individuals whose incomes were below the following percentages of the federal poverty level were eligible to receive Medicaid (
...