This isn't just about health care. It's about jobs. Employers do not want to hire workers ages 50-64 because they are afraid our health care costs will drive up their group health insurance premiums. There is a large population, including myself, of people in this age group who are unemployed with very little hope of finding a permanent full time job outside the government. Personally, my only hope at this point is stimulus funding, which will not last long. President Obama suggested a public option open to only those without other insurance. This defeats the entire purpose of it. Persons over 50 need to be able to opt out of employer-based coverage. By separating insurance from employment, we will experience less age discrimination. The restrictions on the public option will ruin my ability to have a livelihood. I am in great despair over this. Please keep up the fight for a public option open to everyone, employed or not.