Insurance companies should continue to cover the entire cost of a COVID-19 vaccine regardless of whether a person is eligible to receive one under new federal guidelines that Gov. Phil Murphy's administration is challenging, state officials said on Sept. 11.

Without insurance, a COVID vaccine at CVS would cost $225 to $250 out of pocket, according to the pharmacy's website.

The bulletin sent by the state Department of Banking and Insurance "strongly encourages" carriers to continue their standard coverage for everyone even though the federal Food and Drug Administration under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. limited COVID vaccine eligibility to those with at least one underlying condition or to anyone over 65 years.

New Jersey and other states have challenged

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