Thank you for your post. I too am thinking of changing plans, but it all so very confusing to this old guy.
Th issue is that you are restricted to the network, and if you have specialists or ongoing health issues they may not be covered under the Advantage plans. I have regular Medicare and can go to any hospital, use any doctor that accepts Medicare. You will have people at the Advantage program second guessing the treatment protocols far worse than basic Medicare.
In my case with my health issues, the Advantage plan would not be an advantage for me.
I'm 77 and wife is 74 and have had the UPMC Advantage Plan for about ten years and have found it to be terrific for us.
UPMC also has some of the finest hospitals and doctors in Western PA, and it fits with our medical needs.
We use the 'For Life' plan, so other than signing over our medicare monthly amounts to UPMC, and several minimum deductibles, we pay no other premiums.
Our health is relatively good, and our combined prescription drug costs are less than $500/year, which I consider to be almost free.
The Advantage plans are almost always better than medicare for the user, but do research and see if any other plans in your area is better than the one you are looking at.
In Western PA, I highly recommend seniors at least explore the UPMC Advantage plan, and compare it to other plans, and then make a rational, not an emotional decision.