Eliquis is a prescription medication that has a number of protective benefits for the body, especially when it comes to the health of your heart and blood vessels. This medication also has a generic version, which is known as apixaban, and it is used by many individuals across the United States. Medicare provides coverage for a wide range of different prescription drugs through its Medicare Part D benefits, allowing Medicare recipients to obtain coverage for Eliquis if they are eligible and enroll in Part D coverage.
What is Eliquis?
Eliquis works as an anticoagulant for the blood. This means that it prevents clots from forming when they are not supposed to. The blood naturally contains a number of different clotting factors. These factors all play important roles in the body to prevent excess bleeding, especially when an injury occurs.
For example, if you get a cut on your arm, your body will send clotting factors to the injury site. These factors work to make blood thicker and almost gel-like. This is known as coagulation. The thicker blood can then create a blood clot, which serves as a scab and seals off the site to stop the bleeding. This also allows the site to begin the healing process so that it can restore the original tissue and functionality.
While coagulation plays a very important part in the body as it prevents you from bleeding too much with injuries, it can also be potentially harmful to the body. When you are at risk for developing a blood clot too easily, Eliquis is a commonly prescribed medication that blocks certain clotting substances in the blood and makes it thinner and less likely to clot.
How Can Blood Clotting be Harmful?
There are a few different circumstances that could result in blood clotting being harmful to the body. For example, if a blood vessel in the body becomes damaged, a clot will form to attempt to heal the site. While this can help to heal the injured part of the vessel, a clot forming in an artery or vein can narrow the passageway for blood to pass through. This can increase blood pressure and cause other health issues.
Additionally, blood clots can form if the blood in your body is moving too slowly. This is commonly seen in the lower legs, especially after a surgical procedure or with certain health conditions that make it difficult for a person to get up and move around. Staying in the same place for too long, especially with your legs below the level of your heart, can make it difficult for blood to move quickly back up to the heart and can result in blood pooling in the veins. The red blood cells may end up starting to stick together, resulting in a blood clot.
In both of these situations, the blood clot can continue to grow, blocking off the flow of the blood. If blood cannot get through, it may cause tissues to get inadequate blood flow and may cause them to begin to die and deteriorate. The backed-up blood can also cause pressure to build up and may dislodge the clot. The clot may then travel through the bloodstream and lodge itself in the heart or lungs, resulting in serious health complications or death.
Eliquis helps to prevent clots from forming and can significantly reduce the risk of having a stroke. It is commonly used in patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation, which causes an abnormal and irregular heartbeat and can lead to blood flow issues.
Eliquis Coverage for Medicare Recipients
Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B, which work to cover medically-necessary services, but it does not include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Part D can be added to your benefit portfolio to provide coverage for prescription medications. While a Part D stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) does require an additional premium payment, it can be highly beneficial financially for individuals who take medications often. Eliquis is covered by many Part D plans. Many Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage may also cover Eliquis prescriptions.
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