Contact CAA, your local bank, and any other insurance providers to get a quote on what it will cost you to get insurance coverage.

When you talk to them, present the scenarios ... What happens if I end up in hospital in the US? What happens if I end up in hospital in Germany, France, Italy ...?

The insurance policies usually have a nice little statement that says, if you are injured or have an illness and you want to see a Dr or go to an Emergency Department, you must first call the insurance phone number and get permission. They will then direct you to the nearest approved one. And then you can go. When you get there, you present your insurance details and (ideally) all the dealings will be between the Medical Professionals and the insurance company.

That's the theory.

I ended up in a situation where I needed to see the Dr and was subsequently admitted to hospital in Australia. I called the insurance phone number before I went, and because I was quite remotely located, and they didn't know where I was, they tried to direct me to a medical provider in Melbourne ... quite some distance away. I told them I didn't have that much time, and I told them about the local medical providers. They agreed that would be OK.

After I was admitted to hospital, the insurance company called about every other day to find out why I was still in hospital. Only they had no concept of time zones and would call at 3 am, after repeatedly being told that this is Australia on the other side of the world. They would get quite demanding and insist on talking to my Doctor, who was no doubt sound asleep at home then. It took some time before the night nurses and I managed to sort it out and they would call during the day Australia time.

And then my insurance company was presented with the bill. First they attempted to pay it in US dollars. But this is Australia, we don't accept US dollars here. Then they decided to try to pay it with a "credit card" ... I thought that was a step in the right direction, until I found out they were trying to pay for it with someone's diner card. This is Australia. We don't accept random diner cards here.

I ended up having to pay for some of it, and it was months before the whole thing was settled. I did not end up being out of pocket, thankfully, and I am very, very glad I had insurance. I was just extremely surprised that the insurance company had never encountered a claim from Australia before.

So ... ask the questions. Ask if they've had dealings in the countries you plan to travel to. Ask how payment is made. And yes ... do get insurance.