I have had Medicare Advantage since I turned 65. First AARP United Healthcare and for the past three years Keystone Blue Shield. Every year my cost goes down, my benefits go up, co-pays get smaller. And compared to what I was paying the two years before once I retired (35% of the cost for my company insurance), 100% better!

In my opinion Medicare Advantage was created as a stepping stone to do away with Medicare as we know it now and turn it into a voucher program. Once that happens Medicare Advantage will no longer be a bargain.

Wuld I pay more to avoid an Advantage plan? I think it would depend on my circumstances and could not fault anyone for doing so. I don't need to because I get to keep my federal employees insurance as well as Medicare and normally pay nothing for copay except on meds.

I have had several Advantage plans since i turned 65, my total knee replacement (2 on the same knee within 4 months) cost <$100 Total, including the bouts of rehab therapy & the nursing home stays after the surgeries.. My total shoulder replacement cost under $90 (extra bloodwork both times due to my CHF) including rehabbers, visiting nurses, etc. coming to the house 4 times a day for 6 weeks post-surgery and 12 weeks of outpatient rehab.
My prescriptions cost $2-3 for generics for a 3 month supply.
I also get $120/year in free, delivered to my door, OTC items of my choice, free flu/Covid/pneumonia, shingles & whatever shots, PCP visits are $5. Also vision & yearly checkups in-home, some dental, Silver Sneakers Gym membership free, most labwork free. I pay $108/month for the best coverage i have ever had in my entire life, hands down no comparison!!!! Why would i want to pay more for less?????? Also mammograms, colonoscopies etc are generally free-- if they remove polps they do charge by the polyp.
Call AARP, a free call to a USA-based person, have your med list handy, they will steer you to the right plan, for example when i knew i was having the joint surgeries, they gave me a plan weighted towards that. Now i go with the best drug coverage plan.......i generally use Costco because they are so nice there!!!!