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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| US set for Senate healthcare vote | US set for Senate healthcare vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US senators are preparing to vote on the final Senate version of a historic healthcare reform bill. | US senators are preparing to vote on the final Senate version of a historic healthcare reform bill. |
| The legislation aims to cover 31 million uninsured Americans and could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades. | The legislation aims to cover 31 million uninsured Americans and could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades. |
| President Barack Obama said the process had been "difficult" but that the final bill was "greatly worthy of support". | President Barack Obama said the process had been "difficult" but that the final bill was "greatly worthy of support". |
| If approved, it would still have to be reconciled with a more expansive bill passed by the House of Representatives. | If approved, it would still have to be reconciled with a more expansive bill passed by the House of Representatives. |
| Opposition Republicans say the Senate bill is expensive, authoritarian and a threat to civil liberties. | Opposition Republicans say the Senate bill is expensive, authoritarian and a threat to civil liberties. |
| BILLS: KEY DIFFERENCES Public option: House yes, Senate noAbortion: House bill has stricter restrictions on federal fundingHow to pay for reform: House relies heavily on income tax increase for high-earning Americans; Senate bill taxes high-cost health insurance plans class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8424660.stm">Healthcare bills compared | |
| Senators are due to vote on the bill at 0700 Washington time (1200 GMT) on Thursday and correspondents say it is almost certain to be passed. | |
| Healthcare reform has been the key domestic policy of Mr Obama's administration but finalising the details of the proposed bills has been a lengthy and complex process. | Healthcare reform has been the key domestic policy of Mr Obama's administration but finalising the details of the proposed bills has been a lengthy and complex process. |
| On Wednesday, the bill passed the last of three procedural votes in the Senate, with Democrats collecting the 60 votes needed to bring an end to Republican delaying tactics. | On Wednesday, the bill passed the last of three procedural votes in the Senate, with Democrats collecting the 60 votes needed to bring an end to Republican delaying tactics. |
| Mr Obama said he was determined to "close the deal" soon. | Mr Obama said he was determined to "close the deal" soon. |
| "Right now there are families who don't have health insurance and as a consequence of somebody getting sick in their family have been bankrupt," he told PBS's Newshour programme. | "Right now there are families who don't have health insurance and as a consequence of somebody getting sick in their family have been bankrupt," he told PBS's Newshour programme. |
| MARDELL'S AMERICA I have to keep reminding myself that these roadblocks have been erected by senators from the president's own party Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full | MARDELL'S AMERICA I have to keep reminding myself that these roadblocks have been erected by senators from the president's own party Mark Mardell, BBC North America editor Read Mark's thoughts in full |
| Democrat Senate leader Harry Reid said the debate over the bill had been "a long, hard road". | Democrat Senate leader Harry Reid said the debate over the bill had been "a long, hard road". |
| "We stand a few short steps from the most significant finish line we've had in Congress for many decades," he said. | "We stand a few short steps from the most significant finish line we've had in Congress for many decades," he said. |
| Republican senators have refused to back the bill and Senator Orin Hatch described it as " horrendous" and a vote-winning tactic. | Republican senators have refused to back the bill and Senator Orin Hatch described it as " horrendous" and a vote-winning tactic. |
| "It has over $500bn [£313bn] in new taxes. It gives subsidies to people who make $88,000. I mean my gosh when does it stop?" he said. | "It has over $500bn [£313bn] in new taxes. It gives subsidies to people who make $88,000. I mean my gosh when does it stop?" he said. |
| "It doesn't take much to figure out that they are not as interested in healthcare as they are in maintaining control of the United States Congress." | "It doesn't take much to figure out that they are not as interested in healthcare as they are in maintaining control of the United States Congress." |
| 'Frustrations' | 'Frustrations' |
| Mr Obama has had to make significant compromises to the bill to ensure its passage through the Senate. | Mr Obama has had to make significant compromises to the bill to ensure its passage through the Senate. |
| The most significant of these was to drop a government-run insurance scheme, known as the public option. | The most significant of these was to drop a government-run insurance scheme, known as the public option. |
| Reaction as bill advances Q&A: US healthcare reform class="" href="/2/hi/health/8426663.stm">US and Europe compared | |
| But the president denied he had made too many compromises, saying the bill included "95%" of what he had hoped for. | But the president denied he had made too many compromises, saying the bill included "95%" of what he had hoped for. |
| He said many of those who thought he had been too flexible were "frustrated because they haven't got what they want". | He said many of those who thought he had been too flexible were "frustrated because they haven't got what they want". |
| "I have been very consistent throughout this process in terms of what I think is achievable and what would be good for American families," said Mr Obama. | "I have been very consistent throughout this process in terms of what I think is achievable and what would be good for American families," said Mr Obama. |
| He said he would be working hard to reconcile the House and Senate bills as soon as possible, "because the American people need it now". | He said he would be working hard to reconcile the House and Senate bills as soon as possible, "because the American people need it now". |
| Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance. | Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance. |
| Private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. | Private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions. |
| The House version still includes a public option and also differs on how to pay for the reform. | The House version still includes a public option and also differs on how to pay for the reform. |