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Merkel Cell Virus Capsid Antibody Test

South Carolina 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?

$257

Typical negotiated rate. In South Carolina, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $257 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $251 from a physician practice, and about $794 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 5 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$251 to $257
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$794$251 to $1,023

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $794 · 10th to 90th $251 to $1,549Professionalmedian $251 · 10th to 90th $251 to $316
$200$500$1Kfacility $794professional $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
$794.33
Typical High
$1,548.82
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$257.04
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$323.59
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$457.09
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$1,071.52
Typical High
$1,862.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$371.54
Typical High
$467.74
Medcost
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$575.44
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$177.83
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$389.05
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$194.98
Typical High
$389.05

Where South Carolina 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.

South Carolina· 38th of 51

$257

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.