The biggest single issue, in my opinion, of Traditional Medicare, is that there is an unlimited co-insurance out-of-pocket expense. In other words, there is no cap on the 20% co-insurance. In the old days when medical treatment was not that expensive, this was not a deal breaker for many. And in the old days, there was no Medicare Advantage. But today, 20% of expensive treatment can quickly add up to a lot. So it seems to me that the two options are Traditional Medicare with a supplemental plan, and Medicare Advantage. The supplemental plans are good, but you could be looking at an additional $3,000 or more in premiums each year, depending on which plan you choose. Medicare Advantage can be the most practical choice for many, and as we see from the stats, the majority of Medicare enrollees have chosen Medicare Advantage. Most plans provide at least some extras that Medicare does not, and most plans have 0 additional premium. They are not perfect, but nothing is. I try not to let perfect be the enemy of good.
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