I am a big proponent of doing one's homework in all things .....I always tell people to ask the question to 3 different people. Amazing the difference in answers sometimes. And one should think ahead when making decisions about serious issues.

I think it is important for people to understand that choosing a Medicare solution (traditional vs. Advantage), is not just about finding a good plan for today...but having a good plan in the future when one develops health problems and really needs it.
Being restricted to a network, losing one's provider, and being required to obtain approvals for specialists and tests when one has a serious problem is very stressful . I went from an abnormal chest x-ray locally to lung cancer surgery at Mayo Clinic in only seven weeks (with Christmas and Thanksgiving in-between). That is a record, all because I had original Medicare, could self-refer and did not need approvals for tests/procedures. That would not have been possible with an Advantage Plan.

For Medicare one should also be aware that:
1) Finding a good Advantage plan today with your preferred providers is NO guarantee that the same plan and providers will be available next year - note the recent news about Mayo advising patients it will no longer take their plan . That means you must change providers or change plans!
2) Once enrolled in Medicare Advantage, changing back to original Medicare and finding a Medigap/Supplemental plan to cover the 20% not paid by Medicare will be difficult. Why? Because in the beginning when one signs up for Medicare, all insurance companies have to accept you no matter your pre-existing conditions. After that, if one wants to change, insurance companies are no longer obligated to accept you (they are profit driven, sick people take away from profits)

I too can self refer with my Medicare Advantage Plan...and am covered when traveling within the USA. I have an "HMO/POS" type of Advantage plan. And for some services, like PT, copay is the same whether in network or out of network. I pay less than a Medigap plan for premium each month, but I did not choose the least expensive Advantage plan the company offered either. A good broker will help or Minnesota offers the SHIP help line too; I have only experience with them once and it was helpful.