Eliquis vs Xarelto
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Eliquis
Apixaban
Manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb
Xarelto
Rivaroxaban
Manufactured by Janssen
Xarelto costs 37% less per claim than Eliquis ($321.00 vs $510.00). A generic version of Xarelto is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Eliquis | Xarelto |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $510.00 | $321.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $16.6B | $5.0B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 3,850,000 | 1,920,000 |
| Total Claims | 32,460,000 | 15,680,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $4,300.00 | $2,624.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +14.2% | -1.2% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Janssen |
| Condition | Blood Clots | Blood Clots |
| Generic Name | Apixaban | Rivaroxaban |
Eliquis vs Xarelto: What the Data Shows
Eliquis (Apixaban) and Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) are both used to treat blood clots. Based on Medicare Part D data, Xarelto costs $321.00 per claim, which is 37% less than Eliquis at $510.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $16.6B on Eliquis and $5.0B on Xarelto. In terms of patient reach, Eliquis serves more beneficiaries (3,850,000 vs 1,920,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +14.2% for Eliquis and -1.2% for Xarelto. Eliquis saw significant spending growth, suggesting increased utilization or price increases.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Xarelto is cheaper at $321.00 per claim, compared to $510.00 for Eliquis. That makes Xarelto about 37% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Eliquis and Xarelto are used to treat blood clots. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Apixaban and generic Rivaroxaban can offer significant cost savings, typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $16.6B on Eliquis covering 3,850,000 beneficiaries, and $5.0B on Xarelto covering 1,920,000 beneficiaries.
Explore Further
Cost data reflects Medicare Part D spending and may not represent retail pharmacy prices. Average cost per claim represents the total drug cost (not patient out-of-pocket) divided by total claims. This comparison is informational only and should not replace medical advice.
The side-by-side above pulls the CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data data for both Eliquis and Xarelto. What follows is the interpretation — which specific axes carry the most weight for Eliquis versus Xarelto, and which differences are large enough to influence a real decision.
For households or analysts using this comparison as a decision input, the right framing is usually not "which is better" in aggregate but "which is better for the specific decision in front of you." CMS Medicare Part D Drug Spending data captures the raw data; the framing depends on whether the question is investment, residency, planning, or research.
Source: CMS Medicare Part D Spending, 2026.