The GLP-1 Appointment Prep Kit

A short checklist, the 3–5 questions that fit your visit, and a one-page history template. The goal: your appointment time goes to decisions instead of recaps.

Part 1. Before you go: the checklist

Write down your current medication and dose exactly as prescribed, and when you started each dose level.
List every side effect you've noticed: what, when, how bad (mild / moderate / severe), and whether it passed.
Note your weight trend. A few dated points beat a vague "I think it's slowing down."
Gather any recent lab results you have. Ask your provider which labs they want to see going forward.
Bring your full medication and supplement list, including anything another provider prescribed.
Check your insurance situation before the visit: refill date, any prior authorization deadlines.
Pick your top 3–5 questions from Part 2 and write them down. You will not remember them in the room.
Decide in advance what a good outcome of this appointment looks like for you.

Part 2. Pick your 3–5 questions

Find the situation that matches yours and pick 3–5 questions from it. That's it. A short list you ask beats a long list you don't. These are examples to work from, and your provider knows your situation best.

If you're hoping to start a GLP-1

Based on my history, am I a candidate for a GLP-1 medication? Why or why not?
Which labs or measurements do you want to see before deciding?
If insurance declines coverage, what documentation would help an appeal?
What would we treat as the goal here, and how will we know it's working?
If a GLP-1 isn't right for me, what alternatives should we discuss?

If you're dealing with side effects

I've logged these side effects with dates and severity. Which ones concern you?
Are any of these a reason to change the plan, or are they expected at this stage?
What symptoms should make me call you before my next dose?
Is there anything you'd recommend for managing the ones we're keeping an eye on?
Should any of this be in my chart for the insurance record?

If your progress has plateaued

My trend has been flat since [date]. Here's the data. What do you make of it?
Is my current dose still the right one, or is it time to discuss a change?
What, besides the medication, would you want to look at first?
Which labs would tell us more about what's going on?
At what point would we consider a different medication entirely?

If it's a renewal or insurance visit

What does my insurer need from this visit to approve the renewal?
Can we make sure my response to treatment is documented in the chart today?
Here's my dose and weight history on one page. Is anything missing for a prior authorization?
If coverage changes, what are my options, including the manufacturers' direct programs?
How far ahead of my refill date should I schedule the next check-in?

If you're thinking about reducing or stopping

I'm considering a lower dose or stopping. What does that transition usually look like?
What would you want to monitor during and after a change like that?
What are the signs that the change isn't going well and I should come back in?
What's the maintenance plan for protecting the progress I've made?
If I want to restart later, what does that process look like?

Part 3. Your one-page history (fill-in template)

This is the paper version of what Briefed Health builds for you automatically. Print it, fill it in, hand it over at the start of the visit.

My Visit Brief · Appointment date: ____________

Current medication and dose (as prescribed):

On this dose since:

Previous doses and dates:

Weight (3–5 dated points):

Side effects (what / when / severity / resolved?):

Recent labs I'm bringing:

Other medications and supplements:

My top questions today (3–5):

Part 4. Prior authorization, in plain language

What it is: many insurers require your provider to justify a GLP-1 prescription before they'll cover it. That justification is built from your chart. Which means it's built from what your provider knows and documents.

What insurers typically ask for: diagnosis and history, what you've tried before, your response to treatment so far, and periodic evidence that it's working. Requirements vary by plan, so ask yours for the specific criteria in writing.

How organized history helps: when your dose timeline, weight trend, and side effects are documented clearly, your provider can complete the paperwork accurately and on time. Ask at every visit: “is everything my insurer needs in the chart?”

Note: no tool or template can guarantee coverage decisions. This guide explains the process so you can navigate it with your provider.