Galveston Family Hit With $5,000 Bill After Vaccinating Children Amid Measles Outbreak

When Thang Nguyen took his young children to a University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) clinic in Galveston this March, his priority was their health. Amid a rising measles outbreak in Texas, with over 750 cases reported statewide, Nguyen wanted to ensure his 4-year-old son received a second dose of the measles vaccine. By the end of the visit, his children had received a full set of immunizations, including shots for measles, chickenpox, whooping cough, tetanus, and the flu.

But the family’s decision to act quickly came with an unexpected consequence: a bill totaling nearly $5,000. Nguyen, a UTMB postdoctoral fellow, had asked clinic staff if their insurance would cover the visit and was told yes. However, their plan, purchased from a private broker and administered by the International Medical Group, did not include preventive care or vaccines, as reported by The Texas Tribune. It was not an Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plan, and thus lacked the protections most U.S. insurance plans provide for routine immunizations.

The billing problems didn’t stop there. UTMB charged over $1,400 for the MMRV vaccine alone, a price far above the national average. UTMB officials acknowledged two key errors: staff entered the insurance information incorrectly, and outdated vaccine pricing in their billing system resulted in inflated charges. Because of those missteps, the family was not offered assistance through the federally funded Vaccines for Children program, which could have covered the cost of the shots.

Following media attention and an internal review, UTMB adjusted the charges, applying a 50% discount and later waiving the vaccine costs entirely, which its website says is offered to those who are uninsured. His revised total was $1,266, $711 of which was for the MMRV vaccination.While grateful for the resolution, Nguyen expressed frustration at the lack of transparency and the system’s failure to protect families during a public health crisis. 

“I expected them to waive the vaccination cost for my children or at least reduce it more, especially for MMRV,” said Nguyen.

Public health experts warn that others could face similar barriers as federal funding cuts and policy shifts threaten immunization programs. The situation underscores the need for clearer communication from providers, expanded access to vaccine assistance programs, and stronger safeguards for underinsured families, especially during a time when infectious disease outbreaks are once again on the rise.

“One of the most frustrating parts of our health care system is that people who don’t have health insurance coverage have to pay far more than even a health insurance company would pay,” said Stacie Dusetzina, a professor of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.