The US Senate approved President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul on Thursday, backing sweeping changes in the medical insurance market and new coverage for tens of millions of uninsured Americans.

On a party-line 60-39 vote, Senate Democrats supported the most dramatic shifts in health policy in four decades. The early-morning Christmas Eve vote followed months of political wrangling that consumed the US Congress and put a dent in Obama's public approval ratings.

The vote cleared the way for tough negotiations in January with the House of Representatives to formulate a single bill that can be passed into law. The House approved its own costlier version on November 7 that includes different approaches on taxes, abortion and a government-run insurance plan. – Reuters