Appeal of Claims That Are Denied or Partially Denied. The claimant may request review of the Claims Administrator's denial or partial denial of a claim for Plan benefits. Such request must be made in writing within sixty (60) days after claimant has received notice of the Claims Administrator's decision and shall include with the written request for an appeal any and all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits. The written request for an appeal, together with all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits should be addressed to the Claims Administrator, who will be responsible for submitting the appeal for review to the Claims Appeal Administrator.

A Claimant whose claim has been denied shall file with the Plan Administrator a notice of appeal of the denial. Such notice shall be filed within 60 calendar days of notification by the Plan Administrator of the denial of a claim, shall be made in writing, and shall set forth all of the facts upon which the appeal is based. Appeals not timely filed shall be barred. The Plan Administrator shall consider the merits of the Claimant’s written presentations, the merits of any facts or evidence in support of the denial of benefits, and such other facts and circumstances as the Plan Administrator shall deem relevant.

The Appeal Process. The Claims Administrator will submit the appeal to the Claims Appeal Administrator for review of the denial or partial denial of the claim. Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of claimant's appeal, the claimant will be notified of the final decision of the Claims Appeal Administrator, unless, in the Claims Appeal Administrator's sole discretion, circumstances require an extension of this period for up to an additional sixty (60) days. If such an extension is required, the Claims Appeal Administrator shall notify claimant of this extension in writing before the expiration of the initial sixty-day period. During the appeal, the Claims Appeal Administrator, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to request specific information from the claimant, and reserves the right to have the claimant examined or tested by person(s) employed or compensated by the Employer. The final decision of the Claims Appeal Administrator shall set forth in writing the facts and plan provisions upon which the decision is based. All decisions of the Claims Appeal Administrator are final and binding on all employees, Participants, their Beneficiaries, or other claimants.

If the Claimant does not agree with the Administrator’s decision, the Claimant can request that the Administrator reconsider his or her decision by filing a written request for review within sixty (60) days after receiving notice that the claim has been denied. The Claimant or the Claimant’s representative can also present written statements which explain why the Claimant believes that the benefit claimed should be paid and may review all pertinent plan documents. Generally, the appealed decision will be reviewed within sixty (60) days after the Administrator receives a request for reconsideration. However, if special circumstances require a delay, the review may take up to one hundred twenty (120) days. (If a decision cannot be made within the 60-day period, the Claimant will be notified of this fact in writing.) The Claimant will receive a written notice of the decision which will explain the reasons for the decision by making specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

Section # Review of Claim Denial. If a Claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the right to # request that the Plan Administrator review the denial, # review pertinent documents, and # submit issues and comments in writing, provided that the Claimant files a written request for review with the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the date on which the Claimant received written notification of the denial. Within sixty (60) days after a request for review is received, the review shall be made and the Claimant shall be advised in writing of the decision on review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the review, in which case the Claimant shall be given a written notification within such initial sixty (60) day period specifying the reasons for the extension and when such review shall be completed (provided that such review shall be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date on which the request for review was filed). The decision on review by the Plan Administrator shall be forwarded to the Claimant in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision and reference to Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. A decision on review shall be final and binding on all persons for all purposes.

Claims Procedure. Any person making a claim for benefits hereunder shall submit the claim in writing to the Plan Administrator. If the Plan Administrator denies the claim in whole or in part, it shall issue to the claimant a written notice explaining the reason for the denial and identifying any additional information or documentation that might enable the claimant to perfect the claim. The claimant may, within sixty (60) days of receiving a written notice of denial, submit a written request for reconsideration to the Plan Administrator, together with a written explanation of the basis of the request. The Plan Administrator shall consider any such request and shall provide the claimant with a written decision together with a written explanation thereof. No legal action may be commenced or maintained against the Plan more than one year after the Plan Administrator wholly or partially denies, or is deemed to have wholly or patially denied, a claim for Plan benefits. All interpretations, determinations, and decisions of the Plan Administrator in respect of any claim shall be final, binding and conclusive.

Review of Denial. Upon denial of a claim, in whole or in part, a claimant or his duly authorized representative will have the right to submit a written request to the Plan Committee for a full and fair review of the denied claim by filing a written notice of appeal with the Plan Committee within 60 days of the receipt by the claimant of written notice of the denial of the claim. A claimant or the claimant’s authorized representative will have, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits and may submit issues and comments in writing, except for privileged or confidential documentation. The review will take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

The claimant may request a review of a denied claim by writing the Committee in care of the Plan Administrator. The appeal must, however, be made within 60 days after the claimant's receipt of notice of the denial of the claim. Pertinent documents may be reviewed in preparing an appeal, and issues and comments may be submitted in writing. An appeal shall be given a complete review by the Committee, and a written decision, including reasons, shall be provided within 60 days. If there are special circumstances requiring an extensive review, the Committee shall notify the claimant in a written notice within the original 60 day period of its receipt of the appeal and indicating that the decision will be delayed. A final decision on the appeal shall be made within 120 days of the Committee's receipt of the appeal.

Section # Review of Claim Denial. If a Claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the right to # request that the Plan Administrator review the denial, # review pertinent documents, and # submit issues and comments in writing, provided that the Claimant files a written request for review with the Plan Administrator within sixty (60) days after the date on which the Claimant received written notification of the denial. Within sixty (60) days after a request for review is received, the review shall be made and the Claimant shall be advised in writing of the decision on review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the review, in which case the Claimant shall be given a written notification within such initial sixty (60) day period specifying the reasons for the extension and when such review shall be completed (provided that such review shall be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date on which the request for review was filed). The decision on review by the Plan Administrator shall be forwarded to the Claimant in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision and reference to Plan provisions upon which the decision is based. A decision on review shall be final and binding on all persons for all purposes.

A claimant may appeal the Denial of a Benefit Claim by filing a written appeal with the Administrator within 60 days after receiving notice of the Denial. The claimant’s appeal shall be deemed filed on receipt by the Administrator. If a claimant does not file a timely appeal, the Administrator’s decision shall be deemed final, conclusive, and binding on all persons.