Throw out bearing

I own a 1995 Ford F-150, 4.9 cyl, 160000 miles and a standard trans,
My throw out bearing is going bad(or is bad), I want to know how much does something like this usaually cost, and would it be better to bring it to a local mechanic or a Tranmission Center? I really want to keep this truck for at least another 5 years or more, and while they are fixing the throw out bearing, should I have them do anything else while they have all this apart?