Supercuts 2007 Annual Report Download - page 146

If the claim concerns disability benefits under the Plan, the Plan Administrator must notify the claimant in writing within 45 days after the
claim has been filed in order to deny it. If special circumstances require an extension of time to process the claim, the Plan Administrator must
notify the claimant before the end of the 45-day period that the claim may take up to 30 days longer to process. If special circumstances still
prevent the resolution of the claim, the Plan Administrator may then only take up to another 30 days after giving the claimant notice before the
end of the original 30-day extension. If the Plan Administrator gives the claimant notice that the claimant needs to provide additional
information regarding the claim, the claimant must do so within 45 days of that notice.
(b) Review Procedure . Within 60 days after the date on which a person receives a written notice of a denied claim (or, if applicable, within 60
days after the date on which such denial is considered to have occurred), such person (or his duly authorized representative) may (i) file a
written request with the Administrator for a review of his denied claim and of pertinent documents and (ii) submit written issues and comments
to the Administrator. This written request may include comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits.
The claimant shall be provided, upon the claimant’s request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and
other information relevant to the claim for benefits. 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 Administrator will notify such person of its decision in writing. Such notification will be written in a manner calculated to
be understood by such person and will contain specific reasons for the decision as well as specific references to pertinent Plan provisions. The
decision on review will be made within 60 days after the request for review is received by the Administrator (or within 120 days, if special
circumstances require an extension of time for processing the request, such as an election by the Administrator to hold a hearing, and if written
notice of such extension and circumstances is given to such person within the initial 60-day 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 determination on review. If the initial
claim was for disability benefits under the Plan and has been denied by the Plan Administrator, the claimant will have 180 days from the date
the claimant received notice of the claim’s denial in which to appeal that decision. The review will be handled completely independently of the
findings and decision made regarding the initial claim and will be processed by an individual who is not a subordinate of the individual who
denied the initial claim. If the claim requires medical judgment, the individual handling the appeal will consult with a medical professional
whom was not consulted regarding the initial claim and who is not a subordinate of anyone consulted regarding the initial claim and identify
that medical professional to the claimant.
The Plan Administrator shall provide the claimant with written notification of a plan’s benefit determination on review. In the case of an
adverse benefit determination, the notification shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant – the specific reason or
reasons for the adverse determinations, reference to the specific plan provisions on which the benefit determination is based, a statement that
the claimant is entitled to receive, upon the claimant’s request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records,
and other information relevant to the claim for benefits.
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