My supervisor always buys travel insurance on my departments airline tickets even though my company does not require it. Unfortunately I had a death in the family and a medical emergency and had to change my last 2 flights. He harassed me weekly for 4 months to provide a death certificate for my 7 month old grandson in order to receive a $150 credit for that ticket change. Today he called my doctor directly & asked them to fill out a form & fax to the insurance company to collect $300 for the latest ticket change. He also faxed the forms to my doctors office & asked them to send them directly to the insurance company. They refused & I have spoken with them saying under no circumstances are they to complete the forms.

I have a doctors excuse stating the dates I was ill and when I was released from his care & I when I could fly and return to work. I was also placed on FMLA/STD for this illness. He also faxed the FMLA papers to the insurance company along with the release.

This information was not sufficient for their requirements to pay the claim and they want my past 120 days medical history completed by my physician on their forms. I feel this is an invasion of privacy and none of their business what I have been seen for in the past 120 days. I am diagnosed with diabetes, neuropathy & hepatitis c and have been seen for these conditions in the past 120 days. The note provides all they need.

What actions are available to me? I have let HR know. I am afraid of retaliation and being placed under a microscope waiting for some reason to be let go. I am 51 and need my job & my benefits.

Two choices - comply with the insurance request (your company isn't writing the rules) OR reimburse the company for your unused tickets.

Your supervisor has no right to this information and your physician was correct in refusing to provide it.

However, the company's insurance carrier can require the info be provided directly to them. They are bound to keep the info confidential and I would send the info to them with a cover letter stating that you are providing the info to them only to process this claim and that you expect them to keep it confidential.

Either that or reimburse the company.

Just pay the company back for the tickets and write them a check, easy done.

Yes, they may require proof and ask for verification for this. No your rights are not violated, there are no rights in this, the doctors can and may have to release info to insurance companies, and do with out your knowledge.