Eliquis savings guide

In this article:

• How much does Eliquis cost?
• How to save money on Eliquis
• 1. Free Eliquis coupons
• 2. Medicare or Medicaid
• 3. Eliquis savings card
• 4. Eliquis patient assistance program
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Eliquis?

In this article

• How much does Eliquis cost?
• How to save money on Eliquis
• 1. Free Eliquis coupons
• 2. Medicare or Medicaid
• 3. Eliquis savings card
• 4. Eliquis patient assistance program
• Is there a cheaper alternative to Eliquis?

Eliquis (apixaban) is a commonly prescribed blood thinner used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots in people with certain conditions like atrial fibrillation (AFib), or after surgeries like knee replacement. It does so by inhibiting an enzyme Factor Xa, which is important to the blood clotting process, according to Lindsey Hudson, APRN, NP-C, a nurse practitioner and member of the SingleCare Medical Review Board. While it’s a critical medication for many, Eliquis can cost hundreds of dollars per month without insurance. Since blood thinners may be needed long-term, many patients may look for ways to save on the medication.

RELATED: AFib treatments and medications

How much does Eliquis cost?

The average retail cost for Eliquis without insurance is $815 for 60, 5 mg tablets, although costs fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location. Your actual out-of-pocket cost for Eliquis depends on the number of pills needed monthly and the dose of your pill as well. 

Eliquis may be covered by certain private or employer-sponsored commercial health insurance plans. According to the drug’s manufacturer, Bristol Myers Squibb, most people with commercial insurance pay $38 per month for Eliquis, and 5 out of 10 patients pay $20 or less per month. 

Most plans that cover Eliquis classify it as a preferred brand-name drug, which typically costs more than generic medications but less than specialty tier or non-preferred brand-name drugs. For example, Aetna’s 2025 Standard Control Plan covers Eliquis as a preferred brand-name drug, and OptumRx’s 2025 Select Standard formulary classifies it as a Tier 2 medication. 

Eliquis may also be covered by government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid. According to the drug manufacturer, people with Medicare pay on average $54 per month, and 5 out of 10 patients pay $40 or less per month. As for Medicaid, beneficiaries pay on average $2 per month, and 5 out of 10 patients pay $0 per month for Eliquis, according to the manufacturer. Your Medicaid copay for Eliquis can depend on your state’s plan formulary. For example, Massachusetts has a $0 co-pay for Eliquis, a covered drug.

How to save money on Eliquis

If you don’t have insurance coverage or your health insurance plan doesn’t fully cover the cost of Eliquis, there are other ways to save. 

1. Free Eliquis coupons

Using an Eliquis coupon from SingleCare can save you more than $300 on the cost of the medication without insurance. With a free Eliquis coupon, you could pay $488 for 60, 5 mg tablets without insurance, depending on your location and pharmacy. 

The coupon is free to get and use, and over 35,000 pharmacies accept it. You can get your coupon from the SingleCare app or on the SingleCare website for instant access to your Eliquis discount.

2. Medicare or Medicaid 

If you’re enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, you may be eligible for significant savings on Eliquis.

For those with Medicare, the low-income subsidy program, also known as Extra Help, can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket costs. Depending on your income and eligibility, you could pay as little as $0 and a maximum of $12.15 for a monthly supply of Eliquis. Some people qualify automatically, while others need to apply through the Social Security Administration.

Medicaid coverage varies by state, but many state Medicaid programs include Eliquis on their formularies, often with minimal or no copays. Some states also offer State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) that cover the costs that Medicare Part D or Medicaid don’t. 

To find out exactly what you’ll pay for Eliquis, contact your Medicare Part D plan or state Medicaid office for specific coverage information.

3. Eliquis savings card

For people with commercial insurance, the drug’s manufacturer offers a copay card that reduces the copay to as little as $10 for eligible individuals. The program is applicable for up to 24 months from activation, and there’s a maximum benefit each year of $6,400. 

To be eligible for the $10 Co-Pay Card for Eliquis, you must:

• Be insured by commercial insurance that doesn’t cover the full cost of Eliquis
• Have a co-pay of more than $10
• Not be receiving benefits from Medicare Part D, Medicaid, Medigap, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Department of Defense (DOD) programs, or other government health programs
• Be 18 years of older and prescribed Eliquis
• Be a resident of the United States, Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territory

4. Eliquis patient assistance program

For people without insurance and need more financial support with getting Eliquis, the Bristol Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation may help. There are specific eligibility requirements, however, and individuals must:

• Be a resident of the United States or a U.S. territory
• Be treated by a U.S.-licensed prescriber with a valid Eliquis prescription
• Not have insurance coverage for Eliquis
• Have an annual household income at or below $46,950 for a single person or $63,450 for a family of two
• Be 65 and older but don’t qualify for Medicare Extra Help
• Don’t qualify for Medicaid 

If your annual household income isn’t below the limit, you may still qualify for the Patient Assistance Foundation program if you were prescribed a Bristol Myers Squibb medication for cancer, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, plaque psoriasis, obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or a kidney transplant. 

The program provides free medicine for up to 12 months, after which time you can reapply. 

Is there a cheaper alternative to Eliquis?

Yes. If the drug is still too expensive after considering coverage, coupons, and program eligibility, there may be other lower-cost alternatives to Eliquis that your healthcare provider can recommend. “Eliquis is an excellent [directly acting oral anticoagulant,] DOAC, especially in stroke prevention for atrial fibrillation, and it’s the one I see most frequently in my stroke unit. However, when cost is a barrier, some patients are switched to warfarin,” says Luke Barr, MD, board-certified neurologist and Chief Medical Officer of SensIQ. 

Warfarin costs on average $27 for 30, 5 mg tablets without insurance. However, healthcare providers have to monitor their patients on warfarin closely for its side effects and interactions. “While warfarin requires regular INR monitoring and has more dietary interactions, it’s substantially cheaper and often covered widely,” Dr. Barr says. When first starting warfarin, frequent INR lab monitoring may be needed, meaning every day or every few days. Once the INR level is stabilized on a consistent warfarin dose, lab checks of INR can be done every four to six weeks. The College of Chest Physicians suggests that the interval can be extended up to 12 weeks, selected based on prior INR lab stability and foreseeable changes. Other medications, illnesses, and diet changes may alter the INR lab, and dose adjustments for warfarin may be needed. 

Martina Ambardjieva, MD, urologist at Dr. Telx, recommends dabigatran and enoxaparin as other alternatives to Eliquis. 

“Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) is another DOAC alternative that sometimes has better formulary access depending on the insurer,” Dr. Barr says. 

It’s important to work with your health team to find a treatment plan that works best for you. “In my urologic practice, we coordinate closely with cardiology and internal medicine to individualize anticoagulation plans that prioritize both patient safety and cost-effectiveness,” Dr. Ambardjieva says.

Bottom line

“I’m always thinking about both clinical effectiveness and accessibility when making treatment recommendations,” Dr. Barr says. “Medication cost shouldn’t be a barrier to care—but unfortunately, it often is. These kinds of discussions are essential in helping clinicians adapt to real-world constraints while still aiming for optimal patient outcomes,” he states.

If you are struggling to pay for Eliquis, discuss your options with your healthcare provider and pharmacist to make your treatment more affordable. In addition to free Eliquis coupons, SingleCare offers coupons for many Eliquis alternatives as well.