One of the area's biggest health insurers says it will cover the cost of H1N1 flu shots when they become available, but how much will the vaccine cost everyone else when it arrives?

Yvonne Owens does a lot of travelling and worries about catching the very contagious H1N1 swine flu bug. She also thinks when the vaccine becomes available it should be free or extremely low cost.

"I think that this is a matter of public health and it's a civil concern and a government concern," Owens said.

The federal government will distribute the swine flu vaccine for free, but that doesn't mean the flu shots will be free.

Premera Blue Cross announced that it will waive its usual administration fees for swine flu shots and other health providers may follow its lead.

Group Health said it will also provide the vaccination free to its members, but King County health authorities said so far the federal government has not set limits on how much health providers and local pharmacies can charge.

On Thursday, county health authorities told the King County Health Board that it plans to set up free vaccination centers at community sites throughout the county for those who don't have health insurance. Those who have insurance may still get their swine flu shot for free, or very low cost.

"Many health insurance programs will cover the administrative fee, so they can receive vaccine at their health care provider or at a pharmacy, so there's a broad number of places where many folks can receive vaccine and have the administrative fee covered, if they have health insurance," said Michael Loehr of the county’s health department.

County health officials say the H1N1 swine flu vaccine will begin to arrive as early as mid-October, with a special children’s version coming about a week later.

For a regular flu shot the costs at local pharmacies are as follows:

Walgreens $24.99
Bartell’s $28
Rite Aid $30
Fred Myer $25
QFC $25

The vaccine for H1N1 swine flu isn't out yet and none of the pharmacies KIRO 7 check with have set any prices yet for that flu shot.