Just curious here, did your new cardiologist say why he/she recommended that you take Eliquis? Was it possible that the second Holter monitor result that was reviewed by the new cardiologist showed some A-fib on it? It's hard to say what "extra beats that seem benign" might mean- PVCs or PACs come to mind, but it's my understanding that neither these or other types of supraventricular arrhythmias other than A-fib or A-flutter are associated with clot formation in the heart and possible stroke.
I've had paroxysmal SVT for many years, but my first encounter with A-flutter was in 2015, though it stopped on its own after about 4 hours. My cardiologist was conservative in his approach to my taking a blood thinner, he ordered a 21 day monitor after the A-flutter event, and when the result came back not showing either A-fib or flutter, he instructed me to keep an eye on things and if it happened again to go to either an ER or their office for an EKG which would document the A-fib/flutter and then he would start me taking the blood thinner. Over the next few years, I had other atrial tachycardias (not A-fib or flutter), so we I had no need for the blood thinner.

A few years later, after I'd had a pacemaker put in for bradycardia ( tachy-brady thing) that they started seeing short runs of A-fib on my remote pacemaker monitor reports, and even then, the cardiologist said it needed watching but at the low burden of A-fib ( less than 1%) of short duration, blood thinners were still not needed, although he increased my metoprolol to try and keep the A-fib/tachycardia at bay.

After those monitor reports showed several A-fib episodes lasting several hours each, the cardiologist's office called me to come in and discuss this with the doc, and he started me on Eliquis, 5 mg twice/day. I've taken it since then, although my A-fib is still paroxysmal, and mostly of the episodes are of short duration, many less than a minute long. I've had quarterly reports from my pacemaker showing no episodes of A-fib, and I've asked if I really needed to continue the Eliquis. The doc's response has always been that I know as well as he does that the A-fib will return, we never know when it will start, or stop, and I occasionally have longer episodes that may last for 2-3 hours ( sometimes I'm not even aware of them), and there are always the other risk factors, a family history of strokes, I have, so no, there is no stopping the Eliquis. History has shown he's right about that, so I can't argue. And he always concludes those comments about how he'd be "heartbroken" if I had a stroke. I guess I would be too.

I've had no problems at all taking the Eliquis. I don't even notice a tendency to bruise more easily than I did without it, or excess bleeding from small cuts ( though I do my best to avoid injuries, LOL). The main issue with many people, I think, is the expense of the drug. And even with that, I've been able to use a manufacturer's ( Bristol Meyers Squibb) coupon which allows me to get a month's prescription for $10, or $30 for a 3 month supply.

The caveat with that coupon is that it must be used with commercial, not government sponsored insurance. Unfortunately, it can't be used with Medicare Part D, Medicaid or Tricare insurance drug plans. I am insured by Medicare with a secondary insurance with the federal employees BC/BS, and the prescription drug plan is through the secondary insurance. It's a commercial plan, so I'm able to use it with the coupon for the Eliquis. I mention this for those who have commercial insurance, and might be able to benefit from this coupon, it's quite a savings.

Good luck and the best with your healthcare journey.