Key takeaways:
There are several types of blood thinners that can help treat and prevent unwanted blood clots. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as apixaban (Eliquis), are often a first-choice option. But they can be more costly without insurance.
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and antiplatelet medications are typically more affordable blood thinners. They’re also more likely to come as lower-cost generics. But they may not cover the same health conditions as DOACs.
Injectable blood thinners are useful for short-term use or during pregnancy. They can be more costly than oral options, but patient assistance is often available if you’re uninsured or underinsured.
Blood thinners are medications that treat and prevent blood clots. But there are several types of blood thinners, and they each work in different ways for various clot-related health conditions. And each has different risks, benefits, and costs to consider.
At GoodRx, we believe that cost shouldn’t prevent you from getting access to the care you need. Here, we’ll review the most common types of blood thinner medications along with ways to save on their cost.
How to save on the cost of blood thinner medications
The best way to save on the cost or blood thinner medications is to use your health insurance, whether you have a commercial insurance plan, Medicare Part D, or other coverage. Checking your plan’s formulary can help you determine if an individual medication is covered by your plan and what copay you can expect to pay at the pharmacy.
Other ways to help you save on the cost of your medication are:
GoodRx coupons, which are available at no cost and in some cases may beat your insurance copay.
Manufacturer copay cards, which are typically available to people with commercial insurance.
Patient assistance programs (PAPs), which provide medications free of charge to eligible individuals — usually those who are underinsured or uninsured.
1. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs)
Generic medication (Brand name) | Approved uses | Generic available | How to save |
|---|---|---|---|
Apixaban (Eliquis) | • Reduce the risk of clots and stroke in people with NVAF • Treat and prevent DVT/PE • Prevent DVT/PE after hip or knee surgery • Treat and prevent clots in infants and children (from birth to age 18) after at least 5 days of anticoagulant treatment | No | • Copay card (as low as $10 per month) • PAP (no cost if you qualify) • Direct-to-patient self-pay program ($346 per month) |
Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) | • Reduce the risk of clots and stroke in people with NVAF • Treat and prevent DVT/PE • Prevent DVT/PE after hip or knee surgery • Prevent clots in very ill people in a hospital setting • Prevent clot-related heart attack and stroke in people with CAD or PAD • Treat and prevent clots in infants and children (from birth to age 18) • Prevent clots in children age 2 years and older with congenital heart disease after surgery | Yes (2.5 mg tablet only) | • As low as $52.37 for the 2.5 mg generic with GoodRx • Copay card (as low as $10 per month) • PAP (no cost if you qualify) |
Dabigatran (Pradaxa) | • Reduce the risk of clots and stroke in people with NVAF • Treat DVT/PE after 5-10 days of an injectable blood thinner • Prevent DVT/PE after one has occured • Prevent DVT/PE after hip replacement | Yes | • As low as $55.37 with GoodRx |
NVAF (nonvalvular atrial fibrillation); DVT (deep vein thrombosis); PE (pulmonary embolism); CAD (coronary artery disease); PAD (peripheral artery disease); PAP (patient assistance program)
Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used to prevent blood clots in people living with atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat) or after surgery. They can also treat and prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT, blood clots in the legs) and pulmonary embolism (PE, blood clots in the lungs).
DOACs are generally well tolerated and have a lower risk of bleeding than many other blood thinners. In most cases, you’ll take them twice a day. But Xarelto is the exception — it’s typically a once-daily medication.
Ways to save on DOACs
DOACs can be more expensive than other oral blood thinner medications. Dabigatran is the most affordable DOAC since it’s available as a lower-cost generic. But it can still be costly without insurance. Xarelto also comes as a generic, but only in the 2.5 mg dose.
Blood thinner facts: There are a variety of blood thinner options to choose from. Learn a few facts about the most commonly used ones.
Blood thinner interactions: Learn about common blood thinner drug interactions to watch for.
Best blood thinner for A-fib: Learn which blood thinners are a first-choice option to prevent blood clots caused by atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a type of irregular heartbeat.
There are also ways to save on brand-name DOACs:
Eliquis: If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, you can pay as little as $10 per month using a copay card from the manufacturer. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be able to access the medication at no cost through the Eliquis patient assistance program. Eliquis also offers a direct-to-patient program that delivers the medication to you at a self-pay price of $346 per month.
Xarelto: If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, you can pay as little as $10 per month with a copay card from the manufacturer. A patient assistance program is also available.
2. Antiplatelet medications
Generic medication (Brand-name) | Approved uses | Generic available | How to save |
Clopidogrel (Plavix) | • Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with ACS or a history of heart attack • Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with PAD | Yes | • As low as $4.50 with GoodRx |
Ticagrelor (Brilinta) | • Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with ACS or a history of heart attack • Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with CAD • Reduce the risk of ischemic stroke in high-risk people | Yes | • As low as $32.74 for generic ticagrelor with GoodRx • Copay card (as low as $5 per month) • PAP (no cost if you qualify) |
Prasugrel (Effient) | • Reduce the risk of clot-related heart problems in certain people with ACS | Yes | • As low as $21.99 with GoodRx |
Aspirin / dipyridamole (Aggrenox) | • Reduce the risk of stroke in those with a history of ischemic stroke | Yes | • As low as $49.24 with GoodRx |
ACS (acute coronary syndrome)
Antiplatelet medications are typically used to prevent heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots. So they’re typically prescribed if you’ve had a stroke or heart attack in the past or you’re at high risk for these conditions.
In some cases, your prescriber may have you take a low-dose aspirin along with your antiplatelet medication. This is referred to as dual antiplatelet therapy. In fact, Aggrenox is a combination antiplatelet medication that includes low-dose aspirin in the formulation. But you shouldn’t take aspirin with your antiplatelet medication unless your prescriber recommends it.
How to save on antiplatelet medications
Antiplatelet medications are generally more affordable than DOACs. And most are available as lower-cost generics. A free GoodRx discount can lower the cost of most generic antiplatelet medications to less than $40 per month, on average.
Brand-name Brilinta also has a copay card that can lower your cost to as little as $5 per month with commercial insurance. A patient assistance program is also available.
3. Warfarin
Generic medication (Brand name) | Approved uses | Generic available | How to save |
Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) | • Treat and prevent DVT/PE • Treat and prevent clots related to atrial fibrillation and/or heart valve replacement • Reduce the risk of clots, stroke, heart attack, and death after a previous heart attack | Yes | • As low as $3.17 with GoodRx |
Warfarin is an oral blood thinner that works by blocking vitamin K. Certain blood clots need vitamin K to form properly. So blocking it helps prevent these blood clots from happening.
You’ll typically take warfarin once a day. But it’s common for your warfarin dosage to change over time. This is because warfarin is sensitive to changes in your diet and lifestyle. So you’ll typically need frequent blood tests while you’re taking it to make sure your dose stays within a safe range.
How to save on warfarin
Warfarin has been around for a long time, so it’s one of the most affordable blood thinners on the market. You can pay as little as $3.17 for a 30-day supply of generic warfarin with a free GoodRx discount.
4. Injectable blood thinners
Generic medication (Brand name) | Approved uses | Generic available | How to save |
|---|---|---|---|
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) | • Prevent DVT/PE after stomach, hip, or knee surgery or in severely ill people with limited movement • Treat DVT/PE (when given with warfarin) • Prevent clots related to chest pain and certain heart attacks (when given with aspirin) • Reduce the risk of heart attack and death after a previous heart attack | Yes | • As low as $87.35 for a 12-day supply of generic enoxaparin with GoodRx • PAP (no cost if you qualify) |
Fondaparinux (Arixtra) | • Prevent DVT/PE after stomach, hip, or knee surgery • Treat DVT/PE (when given with warfarin) • Treat clots in children ages 1 and older who weigh at least 10 kg (22 lbs) | Yes | • Over 70% off the cost of generic fondaparinux with GoodRx • PAP (no cost if you qualify) |
Injectable blood thinners are often used if you’re unable to take oral blood thinners or you need to stop taking oral blood thinners for a short time, such as before surgery. In some cases, you may also use an injectable blood thinner while you’re waiting for an oral blood thinner to start working. Enoxaparin is also a first-choice option if you need a blood thinner during pregnancy.
In most cases, you can inject these medications under the skin on your own at home. Other injectable blood thinners, such as heparin, are typically used in a hospital setting. So we aren’t including them in this savings guide.
How to save on injectable blood thinners
Blood thinners that come as at-home injections are typically more costly than oral options. But most come as lower-cost generics. And brand-name Lovenox and Arixtra have patient assistance programs that can help you access them at no cost if you’re uninsured or underinsured.
The bottom line
There are several types of blood thinners that can help treat and prevent unwanted blood clots. Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs), such as apixaban (Eliquis), are a newer type of blood thinner that work for a variety of health conditions. They’re often a first-choice option, but they can be more costly in some cases. Most brand-name DOACs offer help in the form of manufacturer copay cards and patient assistance programs to help lower their cost.
Older options, such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven) and antiplatelet medications, are typically more affordable. They’re also more likely to come as lower-cost generics. But warfarin requires frequent blood tests and a consistent diet. And antiplatelet medications aren’t approved for the same conditions as DOACs. So they may not be a good fit for your needs.
Injectable blood thinners are useful for short-term use or during pregnancy. They can be more costly than oral options, but patient assistance is often available if you’re uninsured or underinsured.
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References
American Heart Association. (2025). Aspirin and dual antiplatelet therapy.
AZ&Me. (n.d.). Medications that are included in the AZ&Me program. AstraZeneca.
Brilinta. (n.d.). Savings and support.
Bristol Myers Squibb. (n.d.). Get help paying for your medicines.
Eliquis. (n.d.). Eliquis $10 co-pay card.
Eliquis. (n.d.). Eliquis direct-to-patient program.
Iqbal, A. M., et al. (2022). Antiplatelet medications. StatPearls.
J&J withMe. (n.d.). Johnson & Johnson patient assistance program.
Sanofi. (n.d.). Medicines supported by Sanofi Patient Connection.
Viatris. (n.d.). Viatris patient assistance program (U.S.).
Xarelto. (n.d.). Savings & support.
Zaidi, S. R. H., et al. (2024). Anticoagulant therapy in pregnancy. StatPearls.
