Jakowchik, meanwhile, told me that among the roughly 100 clients he’s assisting, about 30 are getting plans that are more comprehensive, cheaper or both. The other clients are paying anywhere from a little bit more to a lot more for plans that are inferior to what they had, better than what they had or about the same.

The most striking change he’s seeing, Jakowchik said, is among clients who can get pretty good deals, but only if they give up access to the doctors and hospitals they now use. Because his practice is on the Westside, he’s hearing from clients who aren’t happy about losing Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center as hospital options.

“I just ran into one of these today,” said Jakowchik, who told me about a Marina del Rey family that has to decide between a big premium increase and access to Cedars, or much lower premiums but a choice between hospitals in Torrance or the San Fernando Valley.

In six months, a year, or maybe longer, it’s possible that the rocky transition will be behind us and the most well-intended goals of healthcare reform will be met.