Not an expert here, of course, but maybe piecing together the group’s experience will help in answering your question. My Husband had a spike of BP while on Cyclosporin for a Lichen Planus outbreak. He had not been known to have Afib before, although both of his parents experienced Afib, and he was not taking meds for Afib. This BP spike may or may not have been the cause of the blood clot that moved to his eye, causing a stroke in his eye, and the resulting blindness. He had two cardioversions, both of which did not recover a steady heartbeat. Next came an ablation, and with that he was in rhythm.
We did get Eliquis from Canada for a number of years, until the US provided cost relief for Eliquis. In Canada we paid $274.11 for 168 tablets (how they packaged it). With the US changing the pricing structures on certain medications, we have now been able to order here in the States, and the cost is $119.00 for 180 tablets.
He signed up through AARP for an Optum Rx plan. He is on Medicare, and the plan costs $110 per month, and is taken out of his SS check.
I think you are doing well in searching the experience of others, as there are so many different answers as to whether or not to tale a blood thinner, and deeper, whether or not to take Eliquis. For us, Eliquis or not is not an option; it is a must. Secondarily, cost is a factor. And it is do-able compared to the past pricing.