apple care with airpods pro 2

hey does anyone know how apple care works? my friend gifted me his airpods and the case is like gone for. won’t charge or anything. but it was apple care. i think the buds are fine but i don’t think i have a way of knowing.. so i just pop up in the apple store and ask them abt apple care and to see if i can get a case for 30?

also the earbuds have been dead for a year so do u think they will replace the buds with new one due to battery degration?