Denial or Partial Denial of Benefit Claims. If the Claims Administrator denies a claim for benefits in whole or part, the Claims Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of the decision within ninety (90) days after the claim has been received by the Claims Administrator. In the Claim Administrator's sole discretion, the Claims Administrator may extend the time to decide the claim for an additional ninety (90) days, by giving written notice of the need for such an extension any time prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day period. The Claims 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. If the claim is denied or partially denied, the Claims Administrator shall provide the claimant with written notice stating:

Timing of Benefits Determinations. If a claim is wholly or partially denied (an "Adverse Benefit Determination"), the Claims Administrator shall notify the Claimant of the Adverse Benefit Determination within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 90 days after receipt of the claim by the Claims Administrator, unless the Claims Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If the Claims Administrator determines that an extension of time for processing is necessary, then written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90-day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of 90 days from the end of such initial period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Claims Administrator expects to render a decision on the claim.

Upon receipt of any written claim for benefits, the Administrator shall be notified and shall give due consideration to the claim presented. If any Participant or beneficiary claims to be entitled to benefits under the Plan and the Administrator determines that the claim should be denied in whole or in part, the Administrator shall, in writing, notify such claimant within ninety (90) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability) of receipt of the claim that the claim has been denied. The Administrator may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to ninety (90) days (thirty (30) days if claim is on account of Disability), provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day (or forty-five (45) day) period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision. If the claim is denied to any extent by the Administrator, the Administrator shall furnish the claimant with a written notice setting forth:

The Administrator shall provide the claimant with written or electronic notice of its approval or Denial of a properly filed Benefit Claim within 90 days after receiving the claim, unless special circumstances require an extension of the decision period. If special circumstances require an extension of the time for processing the claim, the initial 90-day period may be extended for up to an additional 90 days. If an extension is required, the Administrator shall provide written notice of the required extension before the end of the initial 90-day period, which notice shall # specify the circumstances requiring an extension and # the date by which the Administrator expects to make a decision.

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.

If a claim is wholly or partially denied, the plan administrator shall notify the claimant of the plan's adverse benefit determination within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 90 days after receipt of the claim by the plan, unless the plan administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim. If the plan administrator determines that an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant prior to the termination of the initial 90‑day period. In no event shall such extension exceed a period of 90 days from the end of such initial period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the plan expects to render the benefit determination.

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.

Denial of Claim. The Administrator shall provide a written explanation of any Adverse Benefit Determination within 90 days, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, in which case the Administrator will provide the Participant recipient with written notice of the extension before expiration of the 90-day period. The notice of the extension will indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Administrator expects to render a decision. The extension will not exceed 90 days from the end of the initial period.

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.

Denial of Claim. In the case of the denial of a claim respecting benefits paid or payable with respect to a Participant, a written notice will be furnished to the claimant within 90 days of the date on which the claim is received. If circumstances (such as for a meeting) require a longer period, the claimant will be notified in writing, prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, of the reasons for an extension of time; provided, however, that no extensions will be permitted beyond 90 days after the expiration of the initial 90-day period.