Former Obama Adviser Emanuel: Obamacare Causing Insurance Rate Rise

The uncertainty of Obamacare is raising health premium costs, admits Zeke Emanuel, a former health policy adviser to President Barack Obama.

He told NBC that insurance companies are raising rates because of fear of the unknown, but he believes prices can stabilize.

"Can the premiums be kept relatively stable and not growing at, you know, 10, 12 percent? The first year is filled with uncertainty,” Emanuel said.

No one, including insurers, hospitals or the federal government knows how many people will enter the system, Emanuel said.

“Are they going to be a broad representation of people who are uninsured, or are only the sick going to go in? That is a big fear of the insurance companies. That's why you're seeing the increase in rates.”

Admitting there will be bumps during the initial rollout, Emanuel said the big questions will be how many people sign up, how many opt out, and do they like the choices and price points offered.

“We always used to joke, ‘It’s got to be like shopping on Amazon.’”