Over the years I have seen the following:
1) Claims that agents push you into Supplement plans (plus Part D) because of a commission differential, and claims that agents push you into Medicare Advantage plans (that have Part D built in) because of a commission differential. Ignore all such claims.
2) In general, if you expect to have many health issues in the future, Supplement plans will be $$ superior (compared to Advantage’s cumulative copays). If you do not expect chronic illness, Advantage plans will be superior because of $0 monthly premiums and no copays to pay. And . . . if you are wrong and have chronic illness issues arise when you did not expect them, the **degree** to which you will no longer be $$ superior is limited by the Advantage annual max. It’s not a disaster scenario.
3) For most areas, Advantage network docs are the same docs a Supplement plan uses. The in or out of network question is a VERY RARE matter.
You know how I saved money? I made an appointment at Social Security and one of their agents helped me navigate the labrynth of rules and paperwork. No fancy dinners, No hidden fees, no commissions.