Use of Travel insurance while going to Europe

In general, in normal travel you will never be asked to actually show the documents, however there are exceptions :

• Technically customs officials can ask to see proof of insurance if you are on a visa that requires you to have such insurance. It's unlikely that they will do so, but you will want to be prepared in case they do.

• Some travel companies, especially packaged tours, will require you to have insurance and (in my experience) they will always ask for proof of coverage - not just to confirm that you are covered, but also to take a copy of the details in case they need them during the trip.

• Rental car companies in some countries will ask to see proof of suitable insurance if you decline to take their insurance coverage for the vehicle you are renting.

It's also likely that you will be required to show proof of insurance in the event that you obtain any services that will require a claim to be made, such as being admitted to a hospital. Depending on the location, hospitals can refuse to carry out anything other than critically required services if they do not have confidence that they will be paid for such services - and that normally means insurance. In many cases they are also required to contact the insurance company before performing such services.

In the Schengen area, the border guards could in principle ask about it but usually don't. I don't think the airlines care at all. It's mostly necessary if you need a visa because consulates do ask about it.

I have visited 30+ countries in the last 11 years.
(Much of mainland Europe, UK, USA, quite lot of Asia, Australia.)

I have never been asked about my travel insurance by any official (or anyone else).
Which is not so say that your experience will be the same.

The closest I've come is when driving a 'Eurolease' car, which is fitted with telltale "I am a tourist" red number plates :-(, and entering Slovenia from Italy, the border guards / customs men said our vehicle insurance may not be valid and we had to wait while they checked elsewhere. Initially they 'put on a somewhat stern face', but once they had verified that the insurance was OK they were most friendly and cooperative.

In China I was bitten by a playful guard dog and had to have Rabies injections. They did not ask about travel insurance and I suspect that as the full charge for an initial anti-Rabies course was under $US10 they would have not been happy if I'd asked. (Next 3 required shots in following weeks and months in other countries cost $100s each.