No.

Softcap doesn't mean you can't stack more of it. It means you get less returns. But even if you get more, it's a GOOD thing.

Also, in veteran rank, if you don't block/interrupt/dodge charge up spells like caster swirling fire attacks, or necromancer channels on minions, and ESPECIALLY throwing knives, you will likely lose a third or more of your health, regardless of being at the softcap.

Eating more than one Throw Knife charge up attack is usually a death sentence while fighting a pack of mobs at veteran rank. Same applies for caster charge up attacks.

In veteran ranks you need to play aggressively. You gotta move constantly to keep mobs repositioning and thus attacking you less. You gotta quickly take out mobs as most of them will easily overwhelm passive defense/healing. You gotta time your blocks, interrupts, and dodges perfectly.

And usually a pack of more than 4 will kill you if you don't use an ultimate.

Spamming armor skills and playing passively may have gotten you through with leveling, but in veteran ranks outside of playing broken shield bash builds or DK/Templar aoe cheese, you need to be quick about engagements and use skills wisely.