Senate Democrats are bracing for a floor fight on abortion when debate begins on health care overhaul legislation, as Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., probably will not include restrictions stringent enough to satisfy abortion opponents.

Two anti-abortion Democrats, Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, say they have not decided whether to offer an abortion-related floor amendment to the bill. But they and other Democrats opposed to abortion said they expect longstanding restrictions on federal funding for abortion, known as the Hyde amendment, to be replicated in the health bill.

“I think the Hyde amendment is fairly clear, and it ought be carried over into any legislation here,” Nelson said Tuesday. “The question of how you do it is, of course, going to be open. That’ll probably be a big debate on the floor.”

The health care bill that the House passed Nov. 7 was amended on the floor to forbid insurance plans receiving federal subsidies from covering elective abortion services. A new government-run insurance plan known as the public option would not be able to cover the procedure at all, except in cases of rape or incest or when continuing the pregnancy would threaten a woman’s life.

Abortion rights supporters said that means women buying individual insurance through new exchanges will be unable to obtain policies that cover abortion, even if they receive no subsidy. A group of Democratic women senators met Tuesday to discuss how they can ensure the House language is not included in the Senate health care legislation.

“We will fight against any amendment that prevents women from using their own private funds for their reproductive health care,” Barbara Boxer , D-Calif., said in a statement after the meeting. “We are optimistic that compromise will prevail.”