I just checked my ARISA green card (the company Knopf uses) and found that it does indeed cover Bulgaria. Last year I used Knopf directly, and I think this was true then, too. Don't know how to account for your experience.

OTOH, my green card didn't cover various other places, listed in another connection at http://horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/eu...and-back-38772 . Note that there are other places where costs are similar to those you complain about so bitterly. Note also that most border crossings don't have ATM's, that lots of places in the world require payment for visas, insurance and other necessities in hard currency, and and some lack even moneychangers. Personally, I carry dollars, euros or (almost always) both. Sounds to me like you should, too.

And when a border guard tells me I'm supposed to have insurance and I really ought to stop at the next town and buy some, I thank him politely and am on my way before anyone has a chance to second-guess.

I found Bulgaria pretty supportive and friendly in general, but did not like the looks of those big shaven-headed guys with the thick necks I kept seeing in the cities. I'd rather have a polite discussion of insurance and currency with a uniformed border guard than cross one of those on a street corner!

And FWIW I paid three times what you did for the same coverage in Turkey, purchased at the same crossing you used but headed in the other direction. It's all pretty random, and if you win as often as you lose you're way ahead of the game in my view.

Hope that's helpful.

enjoy,

Mark