I'm seriously thinking of getting involved with Access America. It is an insurance policy that has different levels of coverage for medical, trip interruptions, baggage loss. They have basic, classic and delux plans. The coverage seems excellent. I've purchased in the past but with longer and more frequent trips on the horizon, I'm digging deeper. Advice for health coverage please. Trip would be under 90 days.

Are you sure that your present health coverage would not cover emergencies in Europe? That's where I would look first.

Does it include medical evacuation?

I don't know what advice you want about health coverage, I think those policies are pretty standard for travel insurance when they include health. I think it's personal what kind of health coverage people think they need. I would check policies to see what they limits are for medical evacuation, sure, and compare prices. I know some have much higher limits than others for similar prices. I'd probably want $25K coverage on that per event (I know some are up to $50K if you are going to the middle of Afghanistan, you might want that).

It's hard to give specific advice without knowing where you are going or what kind of trips you have. If you are doing dangerous and risky high adventure things, going to lots of unusual places and third world countries (or even some places without good medical care in many areas where you may be far from airports), you would need better coverage as you may need to go elsewhere and you may be more at risk by what you do.

The only thing I can say is I have a friend who bought Access travel insurance and had to make a claim (just lost luggage, maybe some travel delay) and she couldn't say enough good things about them and how easy it was to file a claim and get paid.

thanks. i heard good things about them also.

In places like Italy you can get medical attention at hospitals at no cost - I fell down in Naples, busted my nose with blood all over - went by ambulance to hospital - had three doctors look at me - X-rays and scans and total charge was $0 - even for a foreigner as they said they had no means of charging or collecting for medical services.

As Pal said..same in France. But I would get med evac insurance

I was charged 21 euros for a check up at a doctor in France - 21 euros for a half-hour visit that would have costs several times as much at home

but yes medical evacuation can cost a lot

Ditto what Pal said about France. A friend got really sick one night and the hotel called a doctor to come for a house call, then had someone go to the next town over to pick up a prescription because the pharmacy in the village was closed. Total bill for everything was about 30 euro.

I've had all kinds of great experiences with health care in both France and Italy - for me and for my kids - at shockingly low prices, and even in Italy a hospital stay for my daughter for free.

But yes to med evac insurance.