US healthcare bill passes first Senate hurdle in vote

Senate leader Harry Reid tries to rally support for his bill

The US Senate has narrowly voted to hold a full debate on a landmark bill designed to overhaul the country's healthcare.

All 58 Democrats, plus two independent senators, approved it. All but one of 40 Republican senators voted against.

Two Democratic senators whose support had been in doubt earlier said they would back the package, a key election pledge of President Barack Obama.

The White House said Mr Obama was "gratified" by the result.

A full Senate debate on healthcare reform will now begin on 30 November.

The House of Representatives narrowly passed its own version of the reforms earlier this month.

The legislation - designed to secure coverage for millions of uninsured Americans - could lead to the biggest changes in US healthcare in decades, if approved.

NEXT STEPS 30 Nov - Senators return from Thanksgiving recess to debate and propose amendments to the bill At least three weeks later - Senators vote on final bill If passed, conference committee set up to reconcile Senate and House bills Both chambers vote on final version If passed, President Obama signs bill into law Q&A: US healthcare reform The US health system 'headache' US healthcare: Who wants what?

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid says his $849bn (£508bn) bill would extend coverage to another 31 million people, or 94% of eligible citizens.

The legislation, which was outlined in a 2,074-page document, is said by Democratic aides to reduce deficits by $127bn (£76bn) over a decade and by as much as $650bn (£389bn) in the 10 years after that.

But it has been criticised by Republicans as being too expensive. They say they will block it, and debate is expected to be fiery.

Fewer than 60 votes for the initial measure would have left the bill vulnerable to Republican delaying tactics.

Efforts to get it passed had focused on three centrist Democrats - Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana - who expressed doubts about the bill.

'Deep reservations'

Sen Nelson said on Friday he would back the procedural vote, but Senators Lincoln and Landrieu declared themselves available only hours before it was due to take place.

Sen Lincoln said that it was important to start debating the issue and that Saturday's vote would "mark the beginning of consideration of this bill by the US Senate, not the end".

More than 46m people in the US have no health insurance

Senator Landrieu said: "It is clear to me that doing nothing is not an option."

All three continue to have deep reservations about the bill itself.

Under the Senate bill, most Americans would have to have health insurance, while private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants had pre-existing medical conditions.

Insurance would be made more affordable with subsidies available to help those in lower income bands, the Democrats say.

People would also be able to take part in new insurance market places and be able to choose to buy government-sold insurance from 2014, a provision intended to help regulate the prices charged by private companies.

Large companies would be required by law to provide coverage to staff. The costs would be covered by government cuts on future Medicare spending.

If the Senate eventually passes its bill, it must then be reconciled with the House of Representatives bill and voted on again before the programme can become law.

Mr Reid's bill differs to the House bill in that he calls for an increase of a half percentage point in Medicare payroll tax for people with an income of over $200,000 (£119,779) per annum - rising to $250,000 (£149,724) for couples.

There is also a tax on high-value insurance policies that is not contained in the House version of the bill.