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Despite rate and deductible increases, President Obama on Thursday defended his namesake health care program and said millions of Americans “now know the financial security of health insurance” because of the Affordable Care Act.

His remarks came as ObamaCare sticker shock is getting even worse in some parts of the country, as more and more states are approving soaring rate increases for next year- with one Arizona town seeing a 75 percent hike and another in Minnesota seeing a 190 percent increase in deductibles over the course of four years.

“It’s absolutely unaffordable,” Minnesota Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt told FoxNews.com. “I don’t even consider that health coverage.”

With some families forced to shell out $2,000 a month for insurance that comes with a whopping $13,000 deductible, Daudt said for some the only option is to pull their coverage and pay a fee for not having insurance, which in 2016 came out to $695 per adult and $347.50 per child (up to a maximum of $2085.)

“It’s catastrophic,” Daudt said, adding that he’s talked to Minnesotans who are being forced to financially drop their coverage, pay the fine and save money on the side for medical emergencies.

However Obama, speaking in Miami, maintained “It’s worked,” but admitted the program wasn't perfect. “No law is.”

Obama was in south Florida to trump up support for the ACA before the Nov. 1 start of the enrollment period.

Problems with rising premiums in many parts of the country as well as major insurers calling it quits have left consumers with few or in some cases no choices next year.

The hikes are fueling criticism of the law, though the White House is now openly pushing the possibility of a public option.

The troubles have bolstered arguments of Republicans and added some top Democratic allies to the crowd of critics, including former President Bill Clinton, who called ObamaCare “the craziest thing in the world,” while Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said it’s “no longer affordable.”

In Arizona, after months of health insurer exits from the Affordable Care Act marketplace, state regulators have approved plans from two companies that will be the only marketplace insurance providers in 2017.

Maricopa County residents' only health care option will be Centene Corp., which said it will sell its “Ambetter” plans at a 74.5 percent increase next year.

The amount people pay will vary on their age, coverage levels and income, which in turn will determine whether an individual qualifies for subsidies that help offset the cost of monthy premiums. Nearly 70 percent of Arizonans with a marketplace plan get subsidized coverage.

Jumps in finalized rates for big health insurance plans around the country illustrate the challenge the Obama administration faces as it seeks to stabilize the president’s landmark health care legislation before he leaves office.

According to a roundup by The Wall Street Journal, market leaders continuing to sell coverage through HealthCare.gov or a state equivalent are seeking premium increases of 30 percent of more in Delaware, Hawaii, Alabama, Mississippi, Kansas and Texas.

In Montana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, the approved rate increases for the market leader top 50 percent.

Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Mexico agreed to start selling plans through the online exchanges after pulling out last year. They agreed to return to the state only if they would be allowed to increase rates 93 percent of their 2015 level.

And costs aside, the ACA has been detrimental to patient outcomes.

A big variable for hospital reimbursement is now patient satisfaction. Hospitals are paid based on how happy the patients were with their stay. Not with the outcomes of whatever happened to them, but with their stay in the hospital. Don't get the drug seekers high, cutting your payments. Don't give the diabetic regular Pepsi, cutting your payments. This has fallen on my shoulders quite considerably as my job performance is now evaluated not by my patients' outcome, but by how happy they and their families are with their stay. So, I've adopted a new MO. "Think of the Press Gainey's" Stroke patient wants water but failed their swallow evaluation and family's pissed off - oops, I accidentally gave the family a glass of water. Unfortunately "I didn't notice" them give it to the patient, and now the patient has aspirated and wound up with pneumonia and on a ventilator. But, they'd be even more pissed off if I didn't give them the water. Extreme case, and absolutely not something I would do, but very much plausible.

Higher patient satisfaction scores have many times over been correlated to higher morbidity and mortality.

Our sons and one of daughter in law have medical coverage with significantly higher premiums and astonishingly high out of pocket limitations. Ironically, my medicare coverage is looking almost as good as what current employees are being offered. They pay for things like abortion and birth coverage though they are not able to have any more children, it's not insurance, it's a tax.

In an effort to not have some families go broke due to a catastrophic illness... Obamacare is making more people suffer financial loss paying premiums and deductibles.

It's a failure. Lets please just admit it, repeal it, and move on.

so it begins - endless spin and deflection

"it is actually much less of a hike than it would be without obamacare"
-one of the talking heads today

the saddest part is that there is a portion of the country who will believe the above statement

Gummy.... How do you know the talking head is wrong?

I don't like Obama care... I didn't like the idea when Hillary was pushing for it. But I also know that I don't know enough about how these systems work to know whether the increase would have been more or less without obamacare...

Are you a health care systems analyst? You seem very certain.

nope, not when he was a one and done gov in MA either.
I did vote for Baker, the current gov here who is also a republican.

i agree
i want to jump in and take a ride
im sick of pulling the wagon

Please tell me ....
That the above mentioned "M.O" ^^^^
Only wants to be a SENATOR...
THAT I COULD HANDLE, NO PROBLEM...

BUT NOT ANOTHER "TAG TEAM"
Husband and wife presidential duo...

^^^ Not in urban areas ...so MUCH...

But there are a few...
I just don't go there...

Maybe in the boonies? there are a lot of them?

There would be riots if that was the case
In urban areas.

Obama calls this......WINNING!

Medicaid is an interesting bird and my background is pretty deep in it from 5 states, federal, and provider perspective. It is very different from state to state (including provider payment, attitude, competance, and percentage of federal dollah) with a core that must be met. The pacific northwest in some ways have been innovative (both good and bad) in how they do things.

My general take on Medicaid (and major parts of obammy care but also expanded to insurance companies) is in some ways it's welfare for medical providers and a perfect example of program growth and a life of it's own. It was not intended to fully cover cost let alone make any sort of profit. It's original intent was to off set losses to providers that were providing free care or barter. But once implemented providers now want 100% of cost or preferably profit. In the past many of these people received care for free or not at all. I don't blame providers for not participating given the requirements and hassle etc. But getting paid less than cost doesn't phase me. The issue is the profit centers drying up elsewhere and the governments grab of a greater and greater percentage of the market.

Z I agree with you completely on the general rigamaroll and while not familiar with your states 'caid don't doubt your experience and view one bit.

Medicare is a different bird all together and a whole 'nother conversation.

Just my opinion.

https://academeblog.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/ceo-salaries-in-health-insurance-industry.jpg

Heaven forbid a practitioner want to be paid fairly for a days work. i would love someone to walk into walmart, take a tv to the register and say that you will pay 25% of what the guy before you paid. just because.

that is medicaid.

and by the way, the population on medicaid is significantly less healthy and significantly more likely to sue their providers. so you are getting paid less to take care of someone who is sicker, someone who will not likely get better because throwing money at them doesnt magically make them accountable to their own health and, in the end, they are more likely to bring forth a lawsuit claiming their poor outcome is their providers fault. meanwhile, the appointment no show rate for folks on medicaid is incredible. who woulda guessed someone wouldnt put much value on something that never cost them anything to begin with...

heck, if anything, providers should make more in treating these folks for taking on more risk.

Gummy the stories I could tell with medicaid patients......

It's frustrating to see Medicare patients fight for what medicaid patients are given. And at least Medicare patients paid into the system.

Stop all the whining here. Hillary will get in and you all will have the single payer insurance you want. Piss poor care that you will have to fight to get. Enjoy!

at least it will be "free"

Thought Hillary was taking credit.