Questions to Ask Your Doctor: AI Checklist for Seniors

Quick answer: Before a doctor's appointment, write down your top three questions, in order of what matters most. Good questions to ask your doctor are: What do you think is causing this? What are my choices, and what happens if I wait? Is this new medicine safe with what I already take? What should I do next, and when should I call you? An AI app like ChatGPT or Gemini can turn your worries into a short, clear list in a couple of minutes. Bring the list, your medicines, and if you can, a friend or family member.

Doctor visits are short, and it's easy to remember your best question in the parking lot afterward. This guide gives you a 10-minute way to get ready, the questions worth asking, and prompts you can copy. It works for a check-up, a new problem, a specialist, or a visit with a parent.

Get ready in 10 minutes

1. Write down what's going on (3 minutes)

Talk or type freely. Don't worry about the right words. Cover:

• What is bothering you, and when it started
• Whether it's getting better, worse, or staying the same
• What makes it better or worse
• Anything you've already tried

If you'd rather talk than type, tap the microphone in ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot and just say it out loud.

2. Let AI turn it into a short list (2 minutes)

Paste or say your notes into the AI with this prompt. Leave out your name, birth date, Medicare or insurance numbers. The AI doesn't need them.

I have a doctor's appointment about [the problem]. Here are my notes: [your notes]. Please write: (1) a 3-sentence summary I can read to the doctor at the start, (2) my 5 most important questions, most important first, in plain words, and (3) anything I should bring. Don't diagnose me.

Read the list and cross out anything that doesn't sound like you. Circle your top three. Those are the ones you ask first, even if time runs short.

3. Gather what to bring (5 minutes)

• Every medicine you take, in a bag or as a list: prescriptions, over-the-counter pills like aspirin or antacids, vitamins and supplements. Include how much and how often.
• Your question list, printed or on your phone.
• Your insurance and Medicare cards, and a photo ID.
• Names of your other doctors and your pharmacy.
• Notes from home: blood pressure or blood sugar readings, if you keep them.
• A friend or family member, if you can. A second set of ears helps, and they can take notes while you talk.

Want AI to make the medicine list neat and printable? This prompt doesn't change anything. It only tidies what you type:

Make a neat table of my medicines with columns for name, dose, when I take it, and what it's for. Don't change or suggest anything. Here they are: [list your medicines].

The questions to ask your doctor

You don't need all of these. Pick the ones that fit your visit. The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) suggests questions like several of these to help patients get clearer answers.

About a new symptom or problem

• What do you think is causing this?
• Is it serious? What would make it an emergency?
• Do I need any tests? What are they for?
• What can I do at home to feel better?

About a test

• What is the test for, and how is it done?
• Do I need to do anything to get ready, like not eating?
• When and how will I get the results?
• Who do I call if I haven't heard back?

About a new medicine

• What is it for, and how will I know it's working?
• How do you spell the name?
• What side effects should I watch for?
• Is it safe with the other medicines and supplements I take?
• Is there a less expensive option, like a generic?

About treatment choices

• What are my options, including waiting and watching?
• What are the benefits and risks of each one?
• What would you suggest for someone my age with my health?

Before you leave the room

• What's the one most important thing for me to do?
• When should I come back, or call you?
• Can I get the visit summary on paper or in the patient portal?

Make the visit go smoothly

• Lead with your top question. Say it in the first minute: "The main thing I want to talk about today is..." That way it doesn't get squeezed out at the end.
• Read your short summary. The 3-sentence summary from the AI keeps you from leaving out details.
• It's fine to ask the doctor to slow down, repeat something, or write it down. Ask how to spell any new word.
• Want to record the doctor's answers? Ask first: "Is it OK if I record this so I don't forget?" Many doctors say yes. The Voice Memos app on iPhone, or the recorder app on Android, is enough.
• If you have a list of concerns, tell the front desk when you book. Some offices schedule a longer visit.

After the visit: let AI help you remember

On the way home, or that evening, say or type what you remember. Then ask the AI to tidy it up:

Here's what my doctor told me today: [your notes]. Turn it into a short list of what I need to do and when, in plain words. Then list anything that sounds unclear so I can call the office and ask.

If the after-visit summary uses words you don't know, AI is good at plain-English explanations:

Explain these words from my visit summary in plain English, one short sentence each: [the words]. Then give me 2 questions to ask my doctor if I'm still unsure.

Call the doctor's office or a pharmacist if the instructions still don't make sense, before you stop or change any medicine.

Put follow-ups, like booking a test or a refill, on your weekly life-admin checklist, a 20-minute Sunday reset that keeps appointments and medicines from slipping.

Starting a new medicine? Here's how to set medication reminders on your iPhone, Android phone or Alexa, so you don't have to remember every dose.

Going with a parent or partner?

If you're helping someone else, ask them what they want to get out of the visit, and use their words in the list. Let them do the talking and take notes for them. Afterward, give them the AI-tidied list on paper. Our guide to helping a parent use AI safely has more on setting things up together.

FAQ

What questions should I ask my doctor at a check-up? Start with your top three worries. Good general questions are: Is there anything I should change about my medicines? Which screenings or vaccines am I due for? What's the one thing I could do to stay healthier this year? When should I come back?

How can AI help me prepare for a doctor's appointment? Tell an AI app what's going on in your own words and ask it for a short summary and a list of questions, most important first. It can also make a neat medicine list and explain medical words in plain English afterward. It shouldn't diagnose you or change your treatment.

Is it safe to tell ChatGPT about my health? You can describe symptoms and ask general questions without sharing who you are. Leave out your name, birth date, Medicare or insurance numbers and account details. Health information you type may be saved in your chat history, so delete chats you don't want to keep.

Can I record my doctor's appointment on my phone? Ask first. Many doctors are happy for you to record the instructions so you don't forget them. Rules vary by state and by office, so asking politely at the start of the visit is the simplest way.

What should I bring to a doctor's appointment? All your medicines or a list (including vitamins and supplements), your question list, insurance and Medicare cards, a photo ID, names of your other doctors and pharmacy, and any readings you take at home, like blood pressure.

What if I forget what the doctor said? Look for the visit summary in your patient portal or ask the office to mail it. Call the office or nurse line with questions. Next time, bring someone along, ask to record, and repeat the plan back before you leave.