What blood thinner is covered by Medicare?

Asked by: Dr. Kaden Bechtelar V  |  Last update: August 17, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (23 votes)

100% of Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plans cover Xarelto, a blood thinner that reduces blood clots. Your cost for each Xarelto prescription filled (copay) will be between $0 to $22. Your exact cost depends on your Part D coverage.

How much is Eliquis if you are on Medicare?

Patients who have prescription insurance through Medicare pay, on average, $55 per month. And 5 out of 10 ELIQUIS patients pay $40 or less. Low-Income Subsidy patients may pay $0 to $11.20 per month through the Social Security Administration's Extra Help4 program. Use this link to learn about Extra Help.

Is there a cheaper blood thinner than Eliquis?

Alternatives like Warfarin, Rivaroxaban, or Dabigatran are alternative options. Warfarin is widely used and cost-effective but requires regular monitoring and dietary restrictions.

Is Eliquis on the list for Medicare?

Medicare prescription drug plans typically list Eliquis on Tier 3 of their formulary. Generally, the higher the tier, the more you have to pay for the medication. Most plans have 5 tiers.

What blood thinners are covered by Medicare?

Key takeaways:
  • 100% of Medicare prescription drug (Part D) plans cover Xarelto, a blood thinner that reduces blood clots.
  • Your cost for each Xarelto prescription filled (copay) will be between $0 to $22. ...
  • If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), it's good to know that Medicare drug plans cover both Xarelto and Eliquis.

Does Medicare Cover Lab Work?

19 related questions found

Is Eliquis covered by senior care?

Eliquis, an anticoagulant medication used to treat and prevent blood clots and stroke, is covered by Medicare Part D. Though the exact costs vary by plan, the monthly copay averages $55, with some patients paying $40 or less. Medicare Part D covers Eliquis.

What is the safest blood thinner for the elderly?

Novel anticoagulants, dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban, are at least as effective as warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke and are safer in elderly patients than warfarin. These agents are also easier to use and unlike warfarin do not require frequent blood test monitoring.

How do I get Eliquis for $10 a month?

SAVE ON OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS FOR ELIQUIS. Click above to find out if you are eligible for a Co-pay Card, which lets commercially insured patients pay as little as $10 per month for up to 24 months from activation, with an annual maximum benefit of $6,400, or activate a Co-pay Card you've received from your doctor.

Why switch from Eliquis to Xarelto?

Why switch from Eliquis to Xarelto? Sometimes people will switch from one DOAC to another for a number of reasons including cost, side effects, your healthcare provider's preference, or because, in the case of Xarelto, it is approved for a broader range of uses than Eliquis.

What is the downside of taking Eliquis?

ELIQUIS can cause bleeding, which can be serious, and rarely may lead to death. This is because ELIQUIS is a blood thinner medicine that reduces blood clotting.

What is the number one prescribed blood thinner?

Warfarin remains the preferred choice for people with liver disease, kidney failure, mechanical heart valves, and certain clotting disorders (thrombophilia). Warfarin offers protection for several days, whereas DOACs have much shorter half-lives.

What foods should I avoid while on Eliquis?

Foods that may increase the concentration of Eliquis® in your system
  • Grapefruit juice.
  • Lime juice.
  • Oats.
  • Mangoes.
  • Wild blueberries.
  • Fish oil.

What does Eliquis do to the heart?

Anticoagulants such as Eliquis make your blood less able to form clots. Specifically, Eliquis is approved for use in adults to: prevent blood clots and stroke in people with a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation (AFib) treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

Why am I paying so much for Eliquis?

The high cost of Eliquis is partly due to the fact that the U.S. government doesn't impose any restrictions on the markup pharmaceutical companies can add to the production cost of a drug. Eliquis is also a brand name drug, which is protected under a patent for 20 years.

What is as good as Eliquis but cheaper?

Alternatives like Pradaxa, Xarelto, Savaysa, warfarin, or heparin are available for those seeking different options. Pradaxa, Xarelto, and Savaysa are direct oral anticoagulants like Eliquis, offering similar benefits but with different side effects and dosing requirements.

What Medicare Part D plan covers Eliquis?

Eliquis falls into the same category of anticoagulants as Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Pradaxa (dabigatranetexilate), and warfarin. Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Part D provide coverage for Eliquis and related medications.

What are the income requirements for Eliquis patient assistance program?

Eliquis
  • Patient must be at or below 300% federal poverty level to qualify. View federal poverty guidelines.
  • Medications can be shipped to the patient's home.
  • Applications are good for 1 year from the date approved by the program.

What is the best blood thinner with least side effects?

A 2022 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found apixaban to be the safest blood thinner among direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), with the lowest risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

At what age do you stop Eliquis?

Published in 2019, the analysis estimates the net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation beyond age 75 in patients with AF, showing that the benefits become marginal after age 87 for warfarin and after age 92 for apixaban (Eliquis; Bristol-Myers Squibb).

Can you live with AFib without blood thinners?

“There are clinical trials that we were part of that are essentially giving patients the option of having a WATCHMAN device as a first-line therapy,” Morgan said, which would mean that A-fib patients would never have to go on blood thinners for their condition.” “It's very safe.

What to do if you can't afford Eliquis?

Patient support. For more information about how insurance covers ELIQUIS and co-pay assistance for eligible, commercially-insured patients, visit ELIQUIS patient support or call 855-354-7847.

Is Eliquis going to go generic?

Eliquis was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 as a brand-name drug. Although a generic was approved in 2019, generic apixaban will not be available on the market until at least April 2028.

Is Medicare negotiating the price of Eliquis?

Prices have been negotiated for the first 10 drugs selected and will be effective in 2026. The first 10 drugs selected for negotiation are: Eliquis.