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Merkel Cell Virus Capsid Antibody Test

Iowa rates for HCPCS 0059U

Used in connection with Merkel cell carcinoma, a skin cancer linked to Merkel cell polyomavirus. It looks in blood serum for the antibody response to the virus's VP1 capsid protein — the coat around the virus — and reports simply whether it is present.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Merkel Cell Virus Capsid Antibody Test cost?

$324

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $324 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $251 from a physician practice, and about $501 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$251$214 to $389
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$501$324 to $851

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $501 · 10th to 90th $251 to $933Professionalmedian $251 · 10th to 90th $195 to $741
$200$500$1Kfacility $501professional $251

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$933.25
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$251.19
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$467.74
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$776.25
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$588.84
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$389.05
Typical High
$1,023.29
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$229.09
Typical High
$776.25
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$398.11
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$707.95
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$741.31
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$323.59

Where Iowa sits

The same service costs 2.6 times more in Hawaii than in Georgia. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Iowa· 21st of 51

$324

HI $562GA $214

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.