Vaught v. Scottsdale Healthcare Corp. Health Plan

Opinion by Judge IKUTA; Partial Concurrence and Partial Dissent by Judge BEA.

*622IKUTA, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiff-appellant Raymond Vaught appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant-appellee Scottsdale Healthcare Corp. Health Plan (the Plan), Vaught’s health plan. The Plan is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). After denying Vaught’s claim for benefits, the Plan declined to grant Vaught’s requests for internal review of that denial. Vaught then challenged the Plan’s denial of benefits in district court based on a new theory.…