SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION (Continued)
What Are Your Rights Under ERISA? (Continued) 7. If you have a claim for benefits which is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you may file suit in a state or federal court. If it should happen that Plan fiduciaries misuse the Plan's money, or if you are discriminated against for asserting your rights, you may seek assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, or you may file suit in a federal court. The court will decide who should pay court costs and legal fees. If you are successful the court may order the person you have sued to pay these costs and fees. If you lose, the court may order you to pay these costs and fees if, for example, it finds your claim is frivolous. 8. If you have any questions about your Plan, you should contact the Plan Administrator. 9. If you have any questions about this statement or about your rights under ERISA, or if you need assistance in obtaining documents from the Plan Administrator, you should contact the nearest office of the Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, listed in your telephone directory or the Division of Technical Assistance and Inquiries, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. You may also obtain certain publications about your rights and responsibilities under ERISA by calling the publications hotline of the Employee Benefits Security Administration. If your claim is denied, Lincoln will notify you of the adverse decision within a reasonable period of time, but not later than 90 days after receiving the claim, unless Lincoln determines that special circumstances require an extension. In such case, a written extension shall be furnished before the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension cannot exceed 90 days. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the plan expects to render the decision. The claim determination time frames begin when a claim is filed, without regard to whether all the information necessary to make a claim determination accompanies the filing. What If Your Claim Is Denied? Lincoln's notice of denial shall include: 1. The specific reason or reasons for denial with reference to those specific Plan provisions on which the denial is based; 2. A description of any additional material or information necessary to complete the claim and an explanation of why that material or information is necessary; and 3. A description of the Plan's appeal procedures and time frames, including a statement of the claimant's right to bring a civil action under ERISA following an adverse decision on appeal. Applicable to All Claims, except Waiver of Premium Claims: What is the Time Frame For Claim Decisions?
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