Echocardiogram during trip to Madrid?

We lived in Italy for several years and discovered the US Embassy keeps a list of medical service providers. Yes, we were able to obtain services by paying cash and then submitting to our insurance provider. Note that Medicare DOES NOT cover you overseas.

Here is the list from the Embassy in Spain https://es.usembassy.gov/medical-assistance/

Russell, you say that you need an echocardiogram. Do you feel safe to travel?

Thanks, Laurel. I asked for clearance from my cardiologist and do feel okay to travel, Lindy.

No, as a non-resident you won't be able to access the state (public) health system unless you have "an emergency". However, you certainly can access our private medical system, one of the best in Europe. For that you'd need to contact the Customer Service of one of the main conglomerates, be QuironSalud, Sanitas (Bupa), Mútua Universal, Vithas, HM Hospitales, etc. (https://isanidad.com/219833/sector-hospitalario-privado-13-grupos-concentran-el-47-de-los-hospitales/)

PS. There's a second way you'd be able to access the public health system but it doesn't apply in your case. That'd be being a resident in certain EU countries with bilateral agreements between their public health services and ours. But again, that's not your case.

@Enric thanks! How do private medical practices compare to the US? Just curious if it would be more affordable.

I´d believe it´s much cheaper (expect something around 100-150EUR), and with an excellent service.

I suspect your doctor will still want the one when you return

There are a lot of private clinics in Spain, as free public healthcare is not available to everyone. You should have no difficulty finding a clinic which can help you with an ECG. There will be clinics who specialise in tests, rather than treatment.
In my experience (cancer treatment) Spanish medical services are very good.
Fees are very reasonable compared to UK, so presumably compare even better with the US.
You can be given a DVD or an email file with the results.
Try googling "ECG in Madrid. This is just one result: https://www.unidadmedica.com/en/specialities/cardiology/.
You may be able to provide a referral from your own doctor online.
I have encountered a situation when the UK doctor would not accept Spanish test results.

Russell,

Do you really need an echocardiogram or an elctrocardiogram?
If your original post is correct, I wouldn't recommend getting it done in Spain. Your at home cardiologist may not be willing to make decisions based on the test. How will you get it translated?
If it is an electrocardiogram/ECG/EKG. then I think it would be fine, but I wouldn't want to pay for a visit to a cardiologist in Spain for such a simple test.

@russell.jurney

I am not in the loop of current costs in the US, but it has always been far (far!) cheaper here in Europe, regardless of the provider.

As an example, a simple and crude Google search yields a cost of 95€ for an electrocardiogram and echocardiogram consultation at QuironSalud, one of the major players. (https://e-quironsalud.es/especialidades-medicas/cardiologia/consulta-de-cardiologia-electrocardiogra-ecocardiograma): Needless to say you can book an English-speaking doctor (or other languages too).

Is it cheaper in the US?

I am not in the loop of current costs in the US, but it has always
been far (far!) cheaper here in Europe, regardless of the provider.

You are assuming the OP has no US insurance. Then you would have to know if the OP fulfilled the deductible and out of pocket limits.

All that said, I have been getting fairly invasive medical procedures done in Europe for years. I have a bum ticker that gets treated here, but my US cardiologist accepts none of the European tests, presumably for liability insurance issues. Has it been cheaper? For some things, yes, other things i do better on US insurance.

It's a 100-150eur without medical insurance, as if anyone enters and wants an electrocardiogram done, with state of the art equipment and personnel. With Spanish private medical insurance it's free (included).

If it were me in the US in November, 2022 it would have been free (i maxed out my out of pocket limit). Otherwise, after about June, a few hundred.

Here, in Budapest my insurance has been paying 100% of everything, including an echocardiogram last year and an EKG every 3 months. But free isn't free cause i do pay for medical insurance in Hungary.

Those who work in Hungary pay about 14% [edited] of their income in medical coverage tax to pay for the free medical, the employeer pays 27% of whcih some goes for medical.

My US medical insurance cost is about the same as what a minimum wage person here in Budapest loses out of his paycheck for medical taxes.

This is why I started traveling. To learn such things.

And i have heard that Spain now has some of the best medical facilities in Europe. So good choice if you want to do tourism-medical

Those who work in Hungary pay about 30% of their income in medical coverage tax to pay for the free medical.

Maybe that should read "free" medical. ?

If I am paying 30% of my income for something it sure ain't 'free'

Russell, is this helpful?

joe32f.. I flubbed up. I knew the total payroll tax was about 46% but got the components mixed up. The Medical component of that paid by the employee is only 14%. The employeer pays an additional 27% for social obligations which includes money for healthcare ... and other things.... For that you get "free" medical. No, you dont get to pick your doctor and will probably never see the same doctor twice in your life. If you do end up in the hospital a relative will need to bring your food. Prescription medicine that is absolutely necessary comes with the care, but something like pain managment medicine ... not always. The hospital room will be a ward (but thats improving), wait times for non-emergency issues can be months. And I am not picking on Hungary. Some of these issues exist in many systems. The UK for iinstance has terrible wait times and you wont see the same doctor more than once.

The private care here is affordable and I know that is true in Spain and in most of Europe. The private care is state of the art and the doctors are generally very good in Europe. I love my healthcare here, put I pay for insurance just like in the US.

The UK for iinstance has terrible wait times and you wont see the same doctor more than once.

not quite.

Long waiting lists for elective and non-urgent it is true, for some disciplines in some hospitals.

On the other hand my wife's geriatric and cardio and dementia and stroke care are all with teams in which the main players don't often change. She was seeing one Consultant 4 times a year at Addenbrookes in Cambridge (world class care) and until last August hadn't seen his colleague. I have various conditions for which I almost always see the same Consultant.
I broke a finger 10 days ago and went to the local Urgent Care facility and was triaged in 5 minutes and saw the treating doctor in another 15. Sent across the hall to x-ray, less than 5 minute wait. Back into the hall because the doc had seen somebody while I was at x-ray. 5 minute wait, maybe 10 - I wasn't watching. Back in with the doc who had the x-rays on his screen and an instant diagnosis. X-rays are digital so straight onto the record available where needed all over the country at the tap of a button. He fitted a splint and sent me on my way - all together maybe 45 minutes.
Just home from a follow-up at the fracture clinic next to the Emergency at the major hospital 15 minutes from home. I was 20 minutes early, seen 5 minutes early and had a nurse, trainee nurse, and the doctor seeing me. Out and on the way home 15 minutes later.

It is true that the doctors at the local Surgery - the local doctors office - do come and go but the core are usually there. 13 examining rooms and 10 minute appointments usually run to time but if somebody needs extra time that is not withheld. Always very good to excellent care (except one temporary doc and he's been gone over a year now).

So unless you have primary knowledge best not to paint with too broad a brush.

Note that typical travel insurance excludes coverage for "medical tourism" coverage.

The UK for iinstance has terrible wait times and you wont see the same doctor more than once.

Ive heard this from a few and see it a lot on the news. But I do realize that things are often skewed. Generally the discussions were about things that could be considered "elective" or could wait without increasing risk. For instance my heart surgery. I coud get it in 3 weeks in the US, here in Hungary its a 6 month wait and I had heard similar things about similar issues in the UK

Sorry, Nigel.

Heck wait times for many things here in the US are pretty bad too, unless you have excellent insurance and money.