If you receive a notice that your claim has been denied, either in full or in part, the notice will explain the reason for the denial, including references to specific plan provisions on which the denial was based. If your claim was denied because you did not furnish complete information or documentation, the notice will state the additional materials needed to support your claim. The notice will also tell you how to request a review of the denied claim and the time limits applicable to those procedures.

To appeal a denial of the type of claims described in this section for any of the Health Care and Insurance Plans for Active Employees, you must submit a written request for appeal of your claim to the appropriate plan administrator within 60 days after receiving the notice of denial. In connection with your appeal, you may submit written comments, documents, records, or other information relevant to your claim. In addition, you will be provided, upon written request and free of charge, with reasonable access to (and copies of) all documents, records, and other information relevant to your claim. The plan administrator for the Business Travel Accident Insurance Plan will decide your appeal under that plan. The plan administrator for the Short Term Disability Plan will decide appeals under that plan. The Health Care and Insurance Plans Appeals Committee is delegated responsibility for deciding appeals under all other Health Care and Insurance Plans for Active Employees. For appeals regarding general plan operations that are not otherwise described in this plan description, including claims related to general plan operations or Section 510 of ERISA, the appeal will be decided by the Plan Administrator or its delegate.

In most cases, a decision will be made within 60 days after you file your appeal. But if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, and you are notified that there will be a delay and the reasons for needing more time, there will be an extension of up to 60 days for deciding your appeal. If an extension is necessary because you did not submit enough information to decide your appeal, the timing for making a decision about your appeal is stopped from the date the plan administrator sends you an extension notification until the date that you respond to the request for additional information, assuming your response comes within a reasonable time frame.

Once a decision is reached, you will be notified in writing of the outcome. If an adverse benefit determination is made on review, the notice will include the specific reasons for the decision, with references to specific plan provisions on which it is based.

If you would like to file a court action after your appeal, please see "Filing a Court Action", which sets forth the rules that will apply.