Three ways to save money on your Eliquis

Since FDA approval in 2012, Eliquis has become an excellent option for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Eliquis has been approved based on the results of the ARISTOTLE 2011 study. During this study more than 18,000 patients were examined. Eliquis was compared with warfarin over an average period of 1.8 years. During this study, Eliquis was shown to be superior to warfarin in reducing the risk of stroke. Patients taking Eliquis also showed a significantly lower risk of major bleeding compared to warfarin.

Over the last 6 years, Eliquis has further demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing the risk of stroke while maintaining a lower risk of major bleeding. Due to its continued success, Eliquis is now being promoted by cardiologists as the number one blood thinner prescribed by cardiologists.

I treat many patients with Eliquis, but it is not for everyone. One of the main reasons is the cost. As with many newer drugs, patients taking Eliquis may end up with significant costs out of their own pocket.

Here are three proven ways to save money on your Eliquis prescription

For commercially insured patients, Eliquis offers a co-payment card of $10 per 30-day delivery that is valid for 24 months. This is subject to a maximum annual benefit of $3800 and the Co-payment Card must be activated prior to use either by calling 1-855-Eliquis or by visiting www.eliquis.com.

Click here to receive a $10 Eliquis Co-Pay voucher card.

Eliquis Free 30-day Trial Card.

It can be used for any type of insurance, including Medicare. This card can also be used for patients without insurance. The card must be activated prior to use either by calling 1-855-Eliquis or visiting www.eliquis.com. This offer is limited to a single lifetime use and cannot be used on prescriptions for more than 30 days.

Click here to receive your free 30-day trial card.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Support Foundation.
You may be eligible for additional medication support if you meet some additional criteria: A) If you have an annual income that is at or below 300% of the federal poverty line. These amounts are currently $36,420 for an individual or $49,380 for a family of two (as of November 2018). Larger family sizes will be adjusted accordingly. B) You may also qualify for assistance if you have a Medicare Part-D plan and can demonstrate that you have spent more than 3% of your annual household income on out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs. This program can be a good option for retirees under a Medicare Part D plan.

How much does Eliquis cost per month?

According to the Bristol-Myers Squibb website, the list price for a 30-day supply of Eliquis is $471 per month. With insurance, patients pay an average of $46 per month, and 5 out of 10 Eliquis patients pay $25 or less. Patients who are prescription through Medicare pay an average of $46 per month. Eliquis patients insured through Medicaid pay an average of $5 per month, and 5 out of 10 pay $0.

Is there a generic version of Eliquis?

In December 2019, the FDA approved two applications allowing Micro Labs Limited and Mylan Pharmaceuticals to manufacture generic versions of Eliquis. However, it is unlikely that there will be generic versions of this drug in the foreseeable future. Bristol-Myers Squibb currently holds a patent on the drug until at least 2023, so I would not expect any generic versions of the drug until at least 2023. However, there is also news that the patent could be extended to 2026.

Can I get Eliquis for free?

Patients can get Eliquis for free via 2 methods, but both are only a short term plan. One option would be the free 30-day trial card mentioned above. The free 30-Day Card can only be used once. Another option would be samples from your doctor’s office. Many cardiology practices are often stocked with Eliquis samples, so Eliquis can be used free of charge for short periods. However, it is unlikely that your practice will be able to provide you with free samples forever, so you may not be able to use Eliquis in the long term.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Eliquis?

All newer blood thinners, which include Eliquis, Xarelto and Pradaxa, are currently under their original patent. This means that generic substitutes are not currently available for any of these drugs, so cost remains an issue. For some prescription plans, Xarelto may offer a better co-payment price than Eliquis. The first of these drugs that is likely to become generic will be Pradaxa, as the original patent will expire in 2021. At that time, the only anticoagulant drug that is generic is warfarin. It has been a generic drug for over 50 years and it is certainly cheap. However, frequent blood tests are required and the anticoagulant effect of the drug is less stable compared to newer anticoagulants because of the daily fluctuations of the drugs. Nowadays, the only reason I give warfarin to my patients with atrial fibrillation is for cost reasons.