Holidaymakers are being warned they risk “financial ruin” if they fail to take out travel insurance. Travel trade organisation Abta said emergency medical costs have “gone through the roof” in recent years. It cited figures from insurer Axa Assistance showing the increase in the cost of an air ambulance flight back to the UK for someone falling seriously ill or having a major accident on a foreign holiday. Flight prices from the European Union rose from 15,000-20,000 euros (£12,800-£17,100) in 2019 to 25,000-30,000 euros (£21,300-£25,600) last year. Over the same period, flights from other parts of the world more than doubled in price, from 25,000-30,000 euros (£21,300-£25,600) to 75,000-85,000 euros (£64,000-£72,600). Abta said air ambulance and other medical costs should be covered by comprehensive travel insurance policies. It warned holidaymakers not to rely on the general health insurance card as it only allows UK citizens to access state medical care in the European Union and a handful of other destinations, and does not cover air ambulance costs. Abta director of communications Graeme Buck said: “Every year we see very sad stories of uninsured people who have fallen ill or had an accident whilst overseas and are running up large medical...