Have you ever had to try a different medication, as required by your health insurance company, before getting the one recommended by your doctor? How did that affect your treatment? 

Did trying other medications first delay finding the right relief for your symptoms? 

What challenges have you had with step therapy rules from your insurance plan?  Have you experienced negative side effects from medications required by step therapy? If so, how did this affect your day-to-day life and well-being?

How much time did it take, on average, for you to gain approval for the medication that works best for your arthritis through the step therapy process?

Have you felt frustration, anxiety, or hopelessness during the process of trying medications required by step therapy that don’t seem to help your arthritis symptoms? How much stress do you experience when dealing with the approval process or the need to try multiple medications as part of step therapy?

How often do you find yourself advocating for your own treatment plan due to step therapy requirements, and how challenging is it to navigate this process? Have you ever had to appeal an insurance denial or fight for approval to move to a more effective treatment due to step therapy?

How much have you spent out-of-pocket on medications as a result of step therapy? (e.g., co-pays, deductibles, etc.) Have you faced any difficulties in affording the medications required by step therapy? How often do you experience financial strain due to the costs associated with step therapy?

Has the cost burden of step therapy caused you to delay or skip any arthritis medications? Have you ever been forced to choose between necessary arthritis treatment and other essential expenses (e.g., rent, utilities)? Has the financial cost of step therapy influenced your decision to discontinue certain treatments?