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Blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets): Cost Comparison

Blood thinners reduce the blood’s ability to clot. This group spans direct oral anticoagulants (apixaban, rivaroxaban), the older anticoagulant warfarin, and the antiplatelet clopidogrel — different mechanisms, all used to prevent clots.

Across these 4 drugs, average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit ranges from $0.1367 (Warfarin Sodium) to $17.68 (Xarelto) for calendar year 2024. Figures are real CMS open data, in US dollars.

How much do blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) cost in the US?

As of calendar year 2024, average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit for these 4 blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) ranged from $0.1367 (Warfarin Sodium) to $17.68 (Xarelto), per CMS open data. These are Medicare program spending figures per billing unit — not pharmacy cash prices, and not medical advice.

Source:CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug·as of calendar year 2024updated yearly (last: )
Not medical advice — and not a like-for-like price. Each figure is average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit, taken unchanged from a public US government dataset. A “dosage unit” differs between drugs (one tablet, one mL, one pen, etc.), so a higher per-unit figure does not always mean a higher monthly cost. These are not pharmacy cash prices, not per-prescription costs, and not price quotes. Always consult a licensed pharmacist or clinician about preventing dangerous blood clots, stroke and DVT.
Blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) — CMS Medicare Part D average spending per dosage unit, calendar year 2024 (CMS, public domain)
DrugGeneric (active ingredient)Avg Part D spending / dosage unit2024 Part D claims
EliquisApixaban$9.63724,061,332
ClopidogrelClopidogrel Bisulfate$0.176613,582,037
XareltoRivaroxaban$17.686,660,246
Warfarin SodiumWarfarin Sodium$0.13674,665,402

Figures are CMS’s own published Medicare Part D spending values (field Avg_Spnd_Per_Dsg_Unt_Wghtd_2024), reported unchanged. The most-prescribed drug in this group in 2024 was Eliquis (24.1 million claims). View the full dataset on CMS data.cms.gov.

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Eliquis

Apixaban
Avg Medicare Part D spending
$9.637 / dosage unit
calendar year 2024
2024 Part D claims
24,061,332
how common it is

This is average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit, not a pharmacy cash price or a per-prescription cost. Information only — not medical advice and not a price quote.

Compare other drug classes

Frequently asked questions

Which blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) are compared here?
This page compares 4 blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) from the CMS Medicare Part D dataset (calendar year 2024): Eliquis, Clopidogrel, Xarelto, Warfarin Sodium. Each is shown with its real average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit in US dollars.
What is the cheapest blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets) by Medicare spending per unit?
Among these drugs, Warfarin Sodium had the lowest average Medicare Part D spending per dosage unit at $0.1367 (calendar year 2024), and Xarelto the highest at $17.68. This is program spending per billing unit, not a retail price, and dosage units differ between drugs.
Is this the price I would pay for blood thinners (anticoagulants & antiplatelets)?
No. These figures are average Medicare Part D program spending per dosage unit from CMS open data, not a pharmacy cash price or per-prescription cost. What you pay depends on your pharmacy, insurance, manufacturer, dose and region. This is information only, not medical advice.
Can a GeraClinic clinician help with preventing dangerous blood clots, stroke and DVT?
A GeraClinic clinician can review your medication for preventing dangerous blood clots, stroke and DVT, explain the options, and issue or renew a prescription online where clinically appropriate. GeraClinic only lists independently verified, licensed clinicians.

Need help with preventing dangerous blood clots, stroke and DVT?

A GeraClinic clinician can review your medication, explain the options, and issue or renew a prescription online where clinically appropriate — without travelling to a clinic.

Contains public sector information published by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and licensed under the U.S. Government Works / Public Domain. Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending by Drug (calendar year 2024, published 2026-06-25).

Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.