Plan Imposed Limitations Period Must be in Benefit Denial Notice

The First Circuit recently ruled that it will not enforce a plan-imposed deadline for filing a lawsuit because the deadline was not set forth in the plan’s benefit denial notices. Santana-Diaz v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. (1st Cir. 2016).  This case reiterates the importance of including any plan specific limitations period for filing suit in the Summary Plan Description and in all benefit denial notices and appeal determinations.