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Obama: Expect mixed healthcare financing

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama says he expects the final healthcare financing provisions will be a blend of the House and Senate versions.

Asked by National Public Radio whether he prefers the House version, which would tax wealthy individuals, or the Senate version, which would tax healthcare providers and generous insurance plans, Obama said he thinks "we're going to end up seeing a little bit of both."

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"You are going to have some provisions that are smart that are in the House bill. There are going to be some provisions that are the right thing to do in the Senate bill," Obama said, adding he thinks taxing so-called Cadillac plans is a good idea "that helps bend the cost curve."

"But the important thing, when you look at the Senate and the House bill, is not the huge differences; it's actually the remarkable similarities. Ninety-five percent of the House bill and the Senate bill are in accord," the first-year Democratic president said in the interview aired Wednesday. "And there are going to be some tough negotiations around the 5 percent. What we know is that under either the Senate or the House bill, there is going to be an exchange set up so that people who right now can't get insurance in the private market can go in and get a good deal."

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