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Exhibit 10.18  

 
 

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS
  
    DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN TRUST    
  

Amended
and Restated Effective February 26, 1999 

Original
Effective Date: June 1, 1991 

(As
amended effective December 1, 1991, January 1, 1992, and February 26, 1999) 

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
  

	ARTICLE I	 	ESTABLISHING OF TRUST	 	2
	

ARTICLE II	
 	

GENERAL DUTIES OF THE PARTIES	
 	

3
	

ARTICLE III	
 	

INVESTMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF TRUST FUND	
 	

3
	

ARTICLE IV	
 	

SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS	
 	

6
	

ARTICLE V	
 	

TAXES, EXPENSES AND COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE	
 	

6
	

ARTICLE VI	
 	

FOR PROTECTION OF TRUSTEE	
 	

7
	

ARTICLE VII	
 	

INDEMNITY OF TRUSTEE	
 	

8
	

ARTICLE VIII	
 	

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE	
 	

8
	

ARTICLE IX	
 	

DURATION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST AND AMENDMENT	
 	

9
	

ARTICLE X	
 	

CLAIMS OF COMPANY'S CREDITORS	
 	

9
	

ARTICLE XI	
 	

MISCELLANEOUS	
 	

10

  

 
 

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS
  DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN TRUST    
  

        THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST (the "Trust Agreement"), made this 26th day of
February, 1999, by and between COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. (the "Company") and NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE,
N.A. (the "Trustee"). 

        WHEREAS, Community Health Investment Corporation (formerly CHS Management Corporation) has previously established the Community Health
Systems Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan") for the benefit of certain of its employees effective June 1, 1991; and 

        WHEREAS, effective January 1, 1992, the Company adopted the Plan and assumed all of the duties and responsibilities of Community
Health Investment Corporation; and 

        WHEREAS, the Plan provides for the payment of certain benefits (the "Benefits") to certain executive employees of the Company and any
subsidiary of the Company (an "Affiliate") (such employees referred to as the "Members") and the beneficiaries designated by the respective Members as being entitled to any payments under the terms of
the Plan in the event of the Member's death ("Beneficiaries"); and 

        WHEREAS, the Plan contemplates that the Company will pay the entire cost of the Benefits from its general assets; and 

        WHEREAS, Community Health Investment Corporation (formerly CHS Management Corporation) has previously established an irrevocable trust,
effective May 31, 1991, known as "The Community Health Systems Deferred Compensation Plan Trust" (the "Trust") to aid in satisfying its obligations under the Plan, which trust is intended to be
a "grantor trust" with the corpus and income of the Trust treated as assets and income of the Company for federal income tax purposes that shall at all times be subject to the claims of general
creditors of the Company as provided in Article X; and 

        WHEREAS, the Trust Agreement was amended in certain respects, effective December 1, 1991; and 

        WHEREAS, the Company agreed to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Trust, effective January 1, 1992, and assumed the
responsibilities of Community Health Investment Corporation under the Trust as of such date; and 

        WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Trust Agreement pursuant to Section 9.3 as provided therein; 

        NOW, THEREFORE, under this Trust Agreement hereby amended and restated effective February 26, 1999, the Trustee covenants that it
will hold all property that it has previously received pursuant to the Trust Agreement and that it will continue to hold all property which it may receive hereunder, in trust, for the uses and
purposes and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, and the parties hereto agree to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated: 

 
 

ARTICLE I
  
    Establishing of Trust    
  

        1.1    Establishing of Trust.    The Company hereby establishes the Trust with the Trustee, consisting of such sums of
money and other property acceptable to the Trustee as from time to time shall be paid or delivered to the Trustee by the Company. All such money and other property, all investments and reinvestments
made therewith or proceeds thereof, and all earnings and profits thereon, less all payments and charges as authorized herein, shall constitute the "Trust Fund." The Trust Fund shall at all times be
subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company as provided in Article X. No 

2

 

Member or Beneficiary shall have any preferred claim to, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust Fund prior to the time such assets are paid to such Member or Beneficiary as
Benefits. 

        1.2    Trust Irrevocable.    The Trust shall be irrevocable and shall be held for the exclusive purpose of providing
benefits under the Plan to Members and their Beneficiaries and defraying expenses of the Trust in accordance with the provisions of this Trust Agreement. Except as provided in Section 3.6 and
Articles IX and X hereof, no part of the income or corpus of the Trust Fund shall be recoverable by or for the Company. 

        1.3    Non-Alienation.    No right or interest to receive benefits from the Trust may be assigned, sold,
anticipated, alienated, or otherwise transferred by any Member or Beneficiary. 

        1.4    Acceptance by Trustee.    The Trustee accepts the Trust established under this Trust Agreement on the terms and
subject to the provisions set forth herein, and it agrees to discharge and perform fully and faithfully all of the duties and obligations imposed upon it under this Trust Agreement. 

 
 

ARTICLE II
  
    General Duties of the Parties    
  

        2.1    General Duties of the Company and the Trustee.    

        (a)  The
Company shall provide to the Trustee the name and mailing address of each Member entitled to receive Benefits and the Beneficiaries, if any, designated by each
Member. The Company shall be responsible for notifying the Trustee of any changes in this information, including, but not limited to, the addition of new Members and a change in the mailing address of
a Member. 

        (b)  The
Company shall keep accurate books and records with respect to the Members of the Plan and the Benefits payable to such Members under the Plan and shall provide such
information to the Trustee as soon as practicable following each Determination Date, as defined in this Plan, and also within thirty (30) days following (i) the date on which a Member
terminates employment with the Company, or (ii) the occurrence of a date specified by a Member pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Plan ("Targeted Deferral Date"). Further, the Company shall
provide access to all books and records relating to the Plan at such time or times as the Trustee shall reasonably request. 

        2.2    Additional General Duties of Trustee.    The Trustee shall manage, invest, and reinvest the Trust Fund as
directed by the administrative committee appointed by the Company to administer the Plan (the "Committee"). The Trustee shall collect the income on the Trust Fund and make distributions therefrom, all
as hereinafter provided. 

 
 

ARTICLE III
  
    Investment, Administration and Disbursement of Trust Fund    
  

        3.1    Investment of Trust Fund.    Subject and pursuant to the direction of the Committee, the Trustee shall have,
with respect to the Trust Fund, the power and discretion to invest and reinvest in (i) common and preferred stocks, bonds, notes and debentures (including convertible stocks and securities but
not including any stock, debt instruments, or other securities of the Company, the Trustee, or their affiliates) that are readily marketable and listed on a United States national securities exchange
or the NASDAQ national market, (ii) interest- bearing deposit accounts or certificates of deposit maturing within one year after acquisition thereof, entered into or issued by a United States
national or state bank or trust company having capital, surplus, and undivided profits, at the holding company level, of at least U.S. $75 million, (iii) direct obligations of, and
obligations fully guaranteed 

3

 

by, the United States of America or any agency of the United States of America that is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America (so long as such obligations shall mature
within one year after acquisition thereof), and (iv) any common, collective, or commingled fund, including a fund maintained by the Trustee, established and maintained primarily for the purpose
of investing and reinvesting in assets of the type described in (i), (ii) and (iii) above, or any proprietary mutual funds established and maintained by the Trustee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event a Member requests the Committee to invest all or a portion of his Account, as defined in the Plan, in any particular investments, the Committee, if it so determines, may make
such request to the Trustee, who shall have sole authority to accept or reject such request. If rejected, such Member's Account shall be invested as otherwise provided in this Article. 

        3.2    Valuation of Trust Fund.    As soon as practicable after the Determination Date, as defined in the Plan, and as
of such other dates as may be specified by the Company, the Trustee shall report to the Company the assets held in the Trust Fund as of such date and shall determine and include in such report the
fair market value as of such date of each such asset. In determining such fair market values, the Trustee shall use such market quotations and other information as are available to it and may in its
discretion be appropriate. The report of any such valuation shall not constitute a representation by the Trustee that the amounts reported as fair market values would actually be realized upon the
liquidation of the Trust Fund. The Trustee shall not be accountable to the Company or to any other person on the basis of any such valuation, but its accountability shall be in accordance with the
provisions of Article IV hereof. 

        3.3    Additional Investment Powers of Trustee.    Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.6, and 9.2 hereof, and
subject and pursuant to the direction of the Committee, the Trustee shall have, with respect to the Trust Fund, the power: 

        (a)  To
retain any property at any time received by it; 

        (b)  To
sell, exchange, convey, transfer, or dispose of, and to grant options for the purchase or exchange with respect to, any property at any time held by it; and 

        (c)  To
register and carry any securities or any other property in the name of the Trustee, or in the name of the nominee of the Trustee (or to hold any such property
unregistered) without increasing or decreasing the fiduciary liability of the Trustee, and to exercise any option, right, or privilege to convert any convertible securities, including shares or
fractional shares of the Trustee, so long as the conversion privilege is offered pro rata to all shareholders. 

        3.4    Administrative Powers of Trustee.    The Trustee shall have the power in its discretion: 

        (a)  To
exercise all voting rights with respect to the shares of stock held in the Trust Fund and to grant proxies, discretionary or otherwise; 

        (b)  To
cause any shares of stock to be registered and held in the name of one or more of its nominees, or one or more nominees of any system for the central handling of
securities, without increase or decrease of liability; 

        (c)  To
collect and receive any and all money and other property due to the Trust Fund and to give full discharge therefor; 

        (d)  Subject
to the provisions of Section 3.6 hereof: to settle, compromise, or submit to arbitration any claims, debts, or damages due or owing to or from the
Trustee; to commence or defend suits or legal proceedings to protect any interest of the Trust; and to represent the Trust in all suits or legal proceedings in any court or before any other body or
tribunal; 

4

 

        (e)  To
organize under the laws of any state a corporation for the purpose of acquiring and holding title to any property that it is authorized to acquire under this Trust
Agreement and to exercise with respect thereto any or all of the powers set forth in this Trust Agreement; 

        (f)    To
determine how all receipts and disbursements shall be credited, charged, or apportioned as between income and principal; 

        (g)  To
make Benefit payments at the direction of the Company; and 

        (h)  Generally
to do all acts, whether or not expressly authorized, which the Trustee may deem necessary or desirable for the protection of the Trust Fund. 

        (i)    Notwithstanding
any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement or applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that could give this Trust the
objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant
to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

        3.5    Dealings with Trustee.    Persons dealing with the Trustee shall be under no obligation to see to the proper
allocation of any money paid or property delivered to the Trustee or to inquire into the Trustee's authority as to any transaction. 

        3.6    Distributions from Trust Fund.    

        (a)  Except
as set forth in Section 9.2 and Article X hereof, distributions from the Trust Fund shall be made by the Trustee to the Members and Beneficiaries at
the times and in the amounts set forth in the Plan and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Trustee shall be fully protected in so doing. As provided pursuant to Section 2.1(b), the
Company shall provide the Trustee with the amount of the Benefit payable to a Member within thirty (30) days following (i) such Member's termination of employment, or (ii) such
Member's Targeted Deferral Date. In the event that the Trustee does not receive such Benefit information within sixty (60) days following a Member's termination of employment or Targeted
Deferral Date, as the case may be, the Trustee shall distribute to the terminated Member or, if the Member's termination of employment was on account of death, to such Member's Beneficiary or, upon
the occurrence of a Targeted Deferral Date, to such Member, as the case may be, the Benefit amount (as provided by the Company) that is payable to such Member or his Beneficiary. Any amounts so paid
shall be reduced by the amount of any federal, state, or local income or other taxes that may be required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company, and the Trustee shall pay such amounts to the
Company for payment to appropriate governmental authorities. 

        Further,
the Trustee may withhold any Benefits payable to a Beneficiary as the result of the death of the Member or any other Beneficiary until such time as (i) the Company is
able to determine whether a generation-skipping transfer tax, as defined in Chapter 13 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any substitute provision thereof, is payable by the Company,
and (ii) the Company has
determined the amount of generation-skipping transfer tax, if any, that is due and payable by the Trustee, including interest thereon. If any such tax is payable, the Trustee shall reduce the amounts
otherwise payable hereunder to such Beneficiary by an amount equal to the generation-skipping transfer tax and the interest thereon that is payable as a result of the death in question as directed by
the Company. Any amounts so withheld shall be payable as soon as there is a final determination of the applicable generation-skipping transfer tax and interest thereon. The Beneficiary and the
personal representatives of the deceased Member or Beneficiary shall provide the Company with all of the information necessary for the Company to determine the amount of such tax, if any, required to
be withheld. Notwithstanding any provision of this Trust Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be obligated to pay the Benefits. To the extent that the Trust Fund is not sufficient to pay any
Benefit when due, the Company shall 

5

 

pay such Benefit directly. In the event the Trust Fund is not sufficient to pay all such Benefits, the Trust Fund shall be applied pro rata among such Members on the basis of their accrued Benefits
under the Plan. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall relieve the Company of its liability to pay Benefits except to the extent such liability is met by application of Trust Fund assets. 

        (b)  Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Trust Agreement, if any amounts held in the Trust are found in a "determination" (within the meaning of
Section 1313(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) to have been includible in gross income of a Member prior to payment of such amounts from the Trust, upon the direction by the
Company, the Trustee shall, as soon as practicable, pay such amounts to such Member (but not in excess of such Member's accrued Benefit at the time of such payment). 

 
 

ARTICLE IV
  
    Settlement of Accounts    
  

        The Trustee shall keep full accounts of all of its receipts and disbursements. The Trustee's books and records with respect to the Trust Fund shall be open to
inspection by the Company, any Member or any Beneficiary of a deceased Member, or their representatives at all times during business hours of the Trustee. Within sixty days after the close of each
calendar year, or any termination of the duties of the Trustee, the Trustee shall prepare, sign, and mail to the Company an account of its acts and transactions as Trustee hereunder. If within sixty
days after the mailing of the account or any amended account the Company has not filed with the Trustee notice of any objection to any act or transaction of the Trustee, the account or amended account
shall become an account stated. If any objection has been filed, and if the Company is satisfied that such objection should be withdrawn or if the account is adjusted to the Company's satisfaction,
the Company shall in writing filed with the Trustee signify its approval of the account and it shall become an account stated. When an account becomes an account stated, such account shall be finally
settled, and the Trustee shall be completed discharged and released, as if such account had been settled and allowed by a judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action or
proceeding in which the Trustee and the Company were parties. The Trustee or the Company shall have the right to apply at any time to a court of competent jurisdiction for judicial settlement of any
account of the Trustee not previously settled as hereinabove provided. In any such action or proceeding it shall be necessary to join as parties the Trustee and the Company and any judgment or decree
entered therein shall be conclusive upon both parties. 

 
 

ARTICLE V
  
    Taxes, Expenses and Compensation of Trustee    
  

        5.1    Taxes.    The Company agrees that all income, deductions, and credits of the Trust Fund belong to them as owner
for income tax purposes and will be included on the company's income tax return. The Company shall from time to time pay taxes (references in this Trust Agreement to the payment of taxes shall include
interest and applicable penalties) of any and all kinds whatsoever which at any time are lawfully levied or assessed upon or become payable with respect to the Trust Fund, the income or any property
forming a part thereof, or any security transaction pertaining thereto. To the extent that any taxes levied or assessed upon the Trust Fund are not paid by the Company or contested by the Company
pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 5.1, the Trustee shall pay such taxes out of the Trust Fund and the Company shall upon demand by the Trustee deposit into the Trust Fund an amount
equal to the amount paid from the Trust Fund to satisfy such tax liability. If requested by the Company, the Trustee shall, at the Company's expense, contest the validity of such taxes in any manner
deemed appropriate by the Company or its counsel. Alternatively, the Company may contest the validity of any such taxes, but any such contest shall not affect the Company's obligation to reimburse the
Trust Fund for taxes paid from the Trust Fund. 

6

 

        5.2    Expenses and Compensation.    The Trustee shall be paid compensation by the Company as the Company and the
Trustee may from time to time agree. The Trustee shall be reimbursed by the Company for its reasonable expenses of management and administration of the Trust, including reasonable compensation of any
agent engaged by the Trustee to assist it in such management and administration. In the event that the Company shall fail or refuse to make such reimbursement upon demand, the Trustee may satisfy such
obligations out of the assets of the Trust Fund. 

 
 

ARTICLE VI
  
    For Protection of Trustee    
  

        6.1    Communications with the Company and the Members.    

        (a)  The
Company shall certify to the Trustee the name or names of any person or persons authorized to act for the Company. Such certification shall be signed by the
President or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Until the Company notifies the Trustee, in a similarly signed notice, that any such person is no longer
authorized to act for the Company, the Trustee may continue to rely upon the authority of such person. 

        (b)  The
Trustee may rely upon any certificate, notice, or direction of the Company which the Trustee reasonably believes to have been signed by a duly authorized officer or
agent of the Company. 

        (c)  Communications
to the Trustee shall be sent in writing to the Trustee at NationsBank of Tennessee, N.A., 414 Union Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37219, Attention: Trust
Department, or to such other address as the Trustee may specify. No communication shall be binding upon the Trust Fund or the Trustee until it is received by the Trustee unless it is in writing and
signed by an authorized person. 

        (d)  Communications
to the Company shall be sent in writing to the Company principal address or to such other address as the Company may specify in writing to the Trustee.
Communications to a Member or Beneficiary of a deceased Member shall be sent in writing to the address of such person as provided by the Company, or to such other address as such person may specify in
writing to the Trustee. No communication shall be binding upon the Company or a Member or Beneficiary until it is received by such person. 

        6.2    Fiduciary Responsibility.    

        (a)  The
Trustee shall discharge its duties under this Trust Agreement in effectuating the Plan in a manner consistent with the objectives of this Trust Agreement and the
Plan. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss sustained by the Trust Fund by reason of the purchase, retention, sale or exchange of any investment in good faith and in accordance with the
provisions of this Trust Agreement, including the Trustee's reliance on any investment guidelines of the Committee. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any failure of the Company
to make contributions to the Trust Fund or for any insufficiency of assets in the Trust Fund to pay Benefits when due. The Trustee shall not be liable for any act taken or omitted to be taken in good
faith, except for its own negligence or misconduct. 

        (b)  The
Trustee's duties and obligations shall be limited to those expressly imposed upon it by this Trust Agreement. 

        (c)  The
Company at any time may employ such agents as the Company may deem necessary or advisable to perform any act or keep any records or accounts required of the Company
by this Trust Agreement or the Plan. 

7

 

 
 

ARTICLE VII
  
    Indemnity of Trustee    
  

        The Company hereby indemnifies and holds the Trustee harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, expenses, or liabilities (herein referred to as
"Liabilities"), including reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs of litigation, to which the Trustee may become subject pursuant to, arising out of, occasioned by, incurred in connection with or
in any way associated with this Trust Agreement, except for any act or omission constituting negligence or misconduct or the Trustee. If one or more Liabilities shall arise, or if the Company fails to
indemnify the Trustee as provided herein, or both, then the Trustee may engage counsel of the Trustee's choice, but at the Company's expense, either to conduct the defense against such Liabilities or
to conduct such actions as may be necessary to obtain the indemnity provided for herein, or to take both such actions. The Trustee shall notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the
Trustee has so engaged counsel of the name and address of such counsel. If the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to this Article VII and the Company shall not
provide such indemnification upon demand, the Trustee may apply assets of the Trust Fund in full satisfaction of the obligations for indemnity by the Company, and any legal proceeding by the Trustee
against the Company for such indemnification shall be on behalf of the Trust. 

 
 

ARTICLE VIII
  
    Resignation and Removal of Trustee    
  

        8.1    Resignation of Trustee.    The Trustee may resign upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the
Company, except that any such resignation shall become effective on the earlier of sixty (60) days from the written notification to the Company by the Trustee or appointment by the Company of a
successor trustee, whichever comes first. The Company shall make a good faith effort, following receipt of notice of resignation from the Trustee, to find and appoint a successor Trustee who will
adhere to the obligations imposed on such successor under the terms of this Trust Agreement. The appointment of a successor Trustee shall also be conditioned upon obtaining from such successor a
written statement that the successor has read the Trust Agreement and understands its obligations thereunder. 

        8.2    Removal of Trustee.    The Company may remove the Trustee upon thirty days' prior written notice to the
Trustee, except that any such removal shall not be effective until the close of such notice period and (i) delivery by the Company to the Trustee of an instrument in writing appointing a
successor Trustee meeting the requirements of Section 8.1 and (ii) an acceptance of such appointment in writing executed by such successor. 

        8.3    Successor Trustee.    All of the provisions set forth herein with respect to the Trustee shall relate to each
successor with the same force and effect as if such successor had been originally named as the Trustee hereunder. 

        8.4    Transfer of Trust Fund to Successor.    Upon the resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor, the Trustee shall transfer and deliver the Trust Fund to such successor. Following the effective date of the appointment of the successor, the Trustee's responsibility hereunder shall be
limited to managing the assets in its possession and transferring such assets to the successor, and settling its final account. Neither the Trustee nor the successor shall be liable for the acts of
the other. 

8

 

 
 

ARTICLE IX
  
    Duration and Termination of Trust and Amendment    
  

        9.1    Duration and Termination.    The Trust is hereby declared to be irrevocable and shall continue until
(i) all payments required by Section 3.6 have been made or (ii) until the Trust Fund contains no assets and retains no claims to recover assets from the Company or any other
person or entity, whichever shall first occur. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 9.1, unless earlier terminated, the Trust shall terminate twenty-one
(21) years after the death of the last to die of all of the Members and their issue living on the date of execution of this Trust Agreement; provided, however, that if at that time the Trust
may be continued in force without violating the rule against perpetuities or any other law of the State of Tennessee, then the Trust shall remain in effect until otherwise terminated as provided
hereunder. 

        9.2    Distribution upon Termination.    If this Trust terminates under the provisions of Section 9.1, the
Trustee shall, upon direction by the Company, liquidate the Trust Fund and, after its final account has been settled as provided in Article IV, shall distribute to the Company the net balance
of any assets of the Trust remaining after all Benefits and expenses have been paid. Upon making such distribution, the
Trustee shall be relieved from all further liability. The powers of the Trustee hereunder shall continue so long as any assets of the Trust Fund remain in its hands. 

        9.3    Amendment.    The Company may from time to time amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of
this Trust Agreement without the consent of the Members; provided, however, that (i) no amendment will be made to this Trust Agreement or the Plan which will cause this Trust Agreement, the
Plan or the assets of the Trust Fund to be governed by or subject to Part 2, 3 or 4 of Title I of ERISA, (ii) no such amendment shall adversely affect any Benefits to the date of such
amendment with respect to any Members or Beneficiary or the amount of assets of the Trust Fund available to pay such Benefits, (iii) no such amendment shall purport to alter the irrevocable
character of the Trust established under this Trust Agreement and (iv) no such amendment shall affect the duties or responsibilities of the Trustee unless the Trustee consents thereto in
writing. 

 
 

ARTICLE X
  
    Claims of Company's Creditors    
  

        10.1    Insolvency of Company.    As used in this Article X, the Company shall be deemed to be "Insolvent" if
(a) the Company is unable to pay its debts as they come due, or (b) the Company is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the federal Bankruptcy Code (or any successor federal
statute). In the event that the Company shall be deemed Insolvent, the assets of the Trust Fund shall be held for the benefit of the general creditors of the Company ("Bankruptcy Creditors"). 

        10.2    Trustee's Responsibilities if Company may be Insolvent.    

        (a)  The
Board of Directors (or other equivalent governing authority) of the Company shall appoint an individual who shall have the duty and authority to promptly inform the
Trustee of the Company's Insolvency and shall notify the Trustee in writing of such appointment and any subsequent change thereto. After the Trustee receives the actual written notice from the
appointed individual that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall deliver any undistributed principal and income in the Trust to satisfy claims of Bankruptcy Creditors as a court of competent
jurisdiction may direct. The Trustee shall have the right to pay the assets of the Trust Fund into such court in an interpleader proceeding for the purpose of being directed by such court as to the
proper disposition of such assets, and the costs incurred by the Trustee in connection therewith shall be paid by the Company and charged against the assets of the Trust Fund. The Trustee and all
other parties shall be bound by such court's directions, and payment of the assets of the Trust fund by 

9

 

the Trustee pursuant to court direction shall completely discharge the Trustee from any and all liability with respect to such payment. 

        If
a person certifies in writing that he is a creditor of the Company and files a claim with the Trustee against the assets of the Trust Fund, the Trustee shall determine whether the
Company is Insolvent. Such determination shall be made by the Trustee within thirty (30) days after receipt of such claim absent circumstances beyond the control of the Trustee, including,
without limitation, any delay in providing necessary information to the Trustee. Pending such determination of Insolvency by the Trustee, the Trustee shall discontinue payment of Benefits. The Trustee
may rely on (i) evidence of Insolvency provided by the Company, (ii) court records showing that the Company is Insolvent, (iii) a statement from a nationally recognized credit
reporting agency showing that the Company is Insolvent or (iv) any other evidence of the Company's solvency or Insolvency which the Trustee deems to be sufficient in its discretion. The Trustee
shall not be liable to any person or entity for any good faith actions or omissions which it takes on account of any such determination. Furthermore, any knowledge and information concerning the
Company's solvency or Insolvency that is not in the actual possession of an Assistant Vice President or higher level officer in the Trust Department of the Trustee's office located in Nashville,
Tennessee shall not be imputed to the Trustee. 

        The
Trustee shall resume holding the assets of the Trust Fund for the benefit of Members and Beneficiaries and shall resume making payment of Benefits to Members and Beneficiaries only
after the Trustee has determined that the Company is not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent, if the Trustee initially determined the company to be Insolvent). Unless and until the Trustee has a
written notice of the Company's Insolvency or has received a written claim against the Trust by a certified creditor of the Company, the Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to inquire as to
whether the company is Insolvent. 

        (b)  If
the Trustee discontinues any payments of Benefits pursuant to Section 10.2(a) and subsequently resumes such payments, the payment to a Member following such
discontinuance shall include an aggregate amount equal to the difference between all payments which would have been made to such Member under the Plan and this Trust Agreement but for this
Section 10.2 and the aggregate payments actually made to such Member by the Company pursuant to the Plan during any such period of discontinuance. In the event that upon resumption of payments
pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Trust Assets are insufficient to pay Benefits in full, Benefit payments to the affected Members shall be prorated by the Company, and the Company shall instruct
the Trustee as to the amounts to be paid to Members. 

 
 

ARTICLE XI
  
    Miscellaneous    
  

        11.1    Laws of Tennessee to Govern.    This Trust Agreement and the Trust hereby created shall be construed and
regulated by the laws of the State of Tennessee, except to the extent preempted by federal law. 

        11.2    Titles and Headings not to Control.    The titles to Articles and headings of Sections in this Trust Agreement
are placed herein for convenience of reference only and in case of any conflict the text of this Trust Agreement, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. 

        11.3    Affiliates.    As used in this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise provided with respect to any subsidiary of
the Company, the term "affiliate" as applied to the Trustee means any person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the Trustee. For purposes of this definition, the term "control" as used with respect to any person or entity shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to 

10

 

direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person or entity, whether through the ownership of an equity interest in such entity, by contract or otherwise. 

        11.4    Successors and Assigns.    This Trust Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written
consent of the other, and any purported assignment without such prior written consent shall be null and void. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each
party hereto. 

        11.5    Severability.    If any provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason,
said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof; rather, each provision shall be fully severable and the Trust Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if said
illegal and invalid provision had never been included herein. 

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this amended and restated Trust Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first
above written, effective February 26, 1999. 

	 	 	COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
	

 	
 	
By:	

 Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	
NATIONSBANK OF TENNESSEE, N.A., TRUSTEE
	

 	
 	
By:	

 Name:

Title:

11

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COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN TRUST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN TRUST

ARTICLE I Establishing of Trust

ARTICLE II General Duties of the Parties

ARTICLE III Investment, Administration and Disbursement of Trust Fund

ARTICLE IV Settlement of Accounts

ARTICLE V Taxes, Expenses and Compensation of Trustee

ARTICLE VI For Protection of Trustee

ARTICLE VII Indemnity of Trustee

ARTICLE VIII Resignation and Removal of Trustee

ARTICLE IX Duration and Termination of Trust and Amendment

ARTICLE X Claims of Company's Creditors

ARTICLE XI MiscellaneousQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.19  

COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS  

 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN  

As Amended Effective October 1, 1993; January 1, 1994; January 1, 1995;

April 1, 1999; July 1, 2000; and June 1, 2001 

Original
Effective Date: June 1, 1991 

  

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
  

	ARTICLE I	 	DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION	 	4
	

ARTICLE II	
 	

ADMINISTRATION	
 	

5
	

ARTICLE III	
 	

PARTICIPATION	
 	

5
	

ARTICLE IV	
 	

BENEFITS	
 	

6
	

ARTICLE V	
 	

VESTING	
 	

7
	

ARTICLE VI	
 	

TRUST	
 	

8
	

ARTICLE VII	
 	

PAYMENT OF BENEFITS	
 	

8
	

ARTICLE VIII	
 	

HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS	
 	

9
	

ARTICLE IX	
 	

SALE OF THE COMPANY	
 	

9
	

ARTICLE X	
 	

NATURE OF THE PLAN	
 	

9
	

ARTICLE XI	
 	

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP	
 	

10
	

ARTICLE XII	
 	

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION	
 	

10
	

ARTICLE XIII	
 	

CLAIMS PROCEDURE	
 	

10
	

ARTICLE XIV	
 	

MISCELLANEOUS	
 	

10

2

   COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN  

W I T N E S S E T H:  

        WHEREAS, COMMUNITY HEALTH INVESTMENT CORPORATION (formerly CHS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION) has previously established the Community Health Systems Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan") to provide retirement and incidental benefits for certain executive employees of the company, effective June 1, 1991; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Plan was amended in certain respects, effective December 1, 1991; and 

        WHEREAS,
effective January 1, 1992, COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC. (the "Company") adopted the Plan and assumed all of the duties and responsibilities of Community Health
Investment Corporation; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Plan was amended in certain respects effective October 1, 1993, January 1, 1994, January 1, 1995, and April 1, 1999; and 

        WHEREAS,
the name of the Company has been changed to CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.; and 

        WHEREAS,
the Company wishes to amend the Plan further as provided herein; 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, the Plan shall be and is hereby amended and restated in this form, effective as of July 1, 2000, except as otherwise provided herein. 

3

  

 
 

ARTICLE I
  
    Definitions and Construction    
  

        1.1    Definitions.    Where the following words and phrases appear in the Plan, they shall have the respective
meanings set forth below, unless their context clearly indicates to the contrary: 

        (1)    Account:    A memorandum bookkeeping account established on the records of the Company for a Member that is
credited with amounts determined pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the Plan. As of any Determination Date, a Member's benefit under the Plan shall be equal to the amount credited to his Account as
of such date. If a Member has made an election to defer a portion of his Compensation until a specified date pursuant to Section 3.4, the account described herein shall consist of such
subaccounts as are necessary to segregate such deferral from the other amounts deferred by the Member. 

        (1)(A)    Affiliate:    Any subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Inc., the corporate parent of the Company. 

        (1)(B)    Bonus:    The bonus paid by the Company or an Affiliate to a Member pursuant to an employment agreement
between the Company or an Affiliate and the Member or otherwise for services rendered or labor performed while a Member. 

        (1)(C)    Change of Control:    A Change of Control occurs in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the
stock or assets of the Company to a purchaser if the debt-to-equity ratio of the purchaser taking into account the sale of the stock or assets of the Company is greater than
..75 to 1 as determined by the Committee immediately prior to the sale. 

        (2)    Committee:    The administrative committee appointed by the Company to administer the Plan, which committee
shall consist of the same persons designated by the Company pursuant to the terms of the
Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan to act on behalf of the Company, as the Administrator of such Plan. 

        (3)    Company:    CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc. 

        (4)    Company Matching Contributions:    Contributions made to the Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan
by the Company or an Affiliate on a Member's behalf pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan. 

        (5)    Compensation:    The total base salary paid by the Company or an Affiliate during the Plan Year to or for the
benefit of a Member for services rendered or labor performed while a Member. 

        (6)    Contributing Member:    A Member who, for a Plan Year, made a deferral election pursuant to Section 3.2,
Section 3.3 and/or Section 3.4. 

        (7)    Determination Date. The last business day of each quarter in a calendar year.  

        (8)    Earnings Credit:    The earnings applied to a Member's Account as of each Determination
Date pursuant to Section 4.2(b). 

        (9)    Effective Date:    June 1, 1991. 

        (10)    Investment(s):    Any investment fund(s) offered through the Trustee or its affiliates including Nations
Fund, Inc., Nations Fund Trust, or Nations Fund Portfolios, Inc. (or their successors). 

        (11)    Investment Gains or Losses:    Actual gains or losses realized from investments applied to a Member's Account
as of each Determination Date pursuant to Section 4.2(a) of the Plan, after deducting applicable investment-related costs and expenses, if any. For the Determination Date, such Member's Account
shall be reduced or increased for an amount equal to the Federal or state income taxes that the Company is required to pay or expects to realize in relation to such investment(s)' taxable gain or loss
realized during such year. 

        (12)    Limitations:    Benefit limitations imposed on the Retirement Plan under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and under sections 401(a)(17), 401(k)(3), 401(m)(2), 402(g) and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 

4

 

        (13)    Member:    Any employee of the Company or an Affiliate who has been designated by the Committee as a Member of
the Plan until such employee ceases to be a Member in accordance with Section 3.1 of the Plan. 

        (14)    Plan:    Community Health Systems Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended from time to time. 

        (15)    Plan Year:    The seven-month period commencing June 1, 1991 and ending December 31, 1991 and
each twelve-consecutive month period commencing January 1 of each year thereafter. 

        (16)    Retirement Plan:    Community Health Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan. 

        (17)    Trust Agreement:    The agreement entered into between the Company and the Trustee establishing a trust to
hold and invest contributions made by the Company under the Plan and from which all or a portion of the amounts payable under the Plan to Members and their beneficiaries will be distributed. 

        (18)    Trust Assets:    All assets held by the Trustee under the Trust Agreement. 

        (19)    Trustee:    The trustee or trustees qualified and acting under the Trust Agreement at any time. 

        1.2    Number and Gender.    Wherever appropriate herein, words used in the singular shall be considered to include
the plural and the plural to include the singular. The masculine gender, where appearing in this Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine gender. 

        1.3    Headings.    The headings of Articles and Sections herein are included solely for convenience and if there is
any conflict between such headings and the text of the Plan, the text shall control. 

 
 

ARTICLE II
  
    Administration    
  

        The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall be authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish rules and regulations and make such
interpretations and determinations as it may deem necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan and all such rules, regulations, interpretations and determinations shall be binding
on all Plan Members and their beneficiaries. The Committee shall be composed of not less than three individuals. Each member of the Committee shall serve until he resigns or is removed by the Company.
Upon the resignation or removal of a member of the Committee, the Company shall appoint a substitute member. No member of the Committee shall have any right to vote or decide upon any matter relating
solely to himself under the Plan or to vote in any case in which his individual right to claim any benefit under the Plan is particularly involved. In any case in which a Committee member is so
disqualified to act, and the remaining members cannot agree, the Company shall
appoint a temporary substitute member to exercise all the powers of the disqualified member concerning the matter in which he is disqualified. All expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. 

 
 

ARTICLE III
  
    Participation    
  

        3.1    Eligibility.    Any employee of the Company or an Affiliate shall become a Member upon designation by the
Committee. Once an employee has been designated as a Member, he shall automatically continue to be a Member until he ceases to be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate or is removed as a Member
by the Committee. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Section 3.1, participation in this Plan shall at all times be limited to a selected group of management or highly compensated
employees of the Company. 

        3.2    Compensation Deferral Election.    Any Member may elect to defer receipt of an integral percentage of his
Compensation for one or more calendar quarters during a Plan Year under the Plan. A Member's election to defer receipt of Compensation for any calendar quarter(s) of a Plan Year shall be made prior to
the beginning of such calendar quarter(s) of the Plan Year and shall be irrevocable for such calendar quarter(s) of the Plan Year. The reduction in a Member's Compensation pursuant to his election
shall be effected by Compensation reductions as of each payroll period within the election period. 

5

 

        3.3    Bonus Deferral Election.    Any Member may elect to defer receipt of an integral percentage of his Bonus for
any Plan Year under the Plan. A Member's election to defer receipt of his Bonus for any Plan Year shall be made prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such bonus becomes payable and
ascertainable, or (ii) October 1 of such Plan Year for which such Bonus is payable, and shall be irrevocable for such Plan Year. The election to defer receipt of such percentage of a
Member's Bonus pursuant to the deferral election above shall be effected by a reduction in the amount of the Bonus to which such deferral election relates. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of
this Section 3.3, a Member may defer receipt of his Bonus for 1993 no later than the date of which such bonus becomes payable and ascertainable. 

        3.4    Targeted Deferral Election.    In general, all amounts deferred by a Member pursuant to Sections 3.2 and 3.3
shall be held for the Member and distributed following the Member's termination of employment or the occurrence of a hardship event pursuant to Sections 7.1, 7.2 and 8.1. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, a Member may also defer the receipt of any portion of the Member's Compensation otherwise deferred pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.2 and 3.3 until a specific future date, by
executing a deferral form designed for such purpose as specified by the Committee. Upon the occurrence of any such date specified by a Member in such an election form, the deferred amount, and the
Earnings Credit and Investment(s) Income or Loss attributable thereto, shall be distributed to the Member. Until so distributed, such deferral amounts shall continue to be a part of the Member's
Account. 

        3.5    Investment Request.    A Member may request the Committee to invest or change the investment of all or a
portion of his Account in any Investments. A Member may make such request at any time, provided that the Committee shall only be obligated to direct the Trustee to make such investment or charge such
investment as soon as reasonably practicable and within the guidelines and requirements established by the Trustee for the investment of funds held in the Account. A Member who does not request the
Committee to invest any portion of his Account shall have the funds held in such Account in a money market fund offered through the Trustee or its affiliates. 

 
 

ARTICLE IV
  
    Benefits    
  

        4.1    Amount of Benefit.    As of the last day of each payroll period of each Plan Year, a Member's Account shall be
credited with an amount equal to the Compensation deferred under the Plan pursuant to an election by the Member as described in Article III for such payroll period. 

        Additionally,
as of the last day of each Plan Year or, if later, the date on which the Company Matching Contributions are made under the Retirement Plan for any such Plan Year, the
Member's Account of each Contributing Member during such Plan Year who remains employed by the Company on such date shall be credited with an amount equal to the following: 

	(a)
	the
Company Matching Contributions to which such Contributing Member would have been entitled under the Retirement Plan taking into account both (i) the salary deferrals made
by such Contributing Member to the Retirement Plan for the Plan Year and (ii) the deferrals made by such Contributing Member under this Plan pursuant to Sections 3.1, 3.2, or 3.3 for the same
Plan Year (up to a combined maximum of six percent (6.00%) of such Contributing Member's Compensation, as limited by Code Section 401(a)(17)) for the Plan Year, assuming that none of the other
Limitations were imposed; minus

	(b)
	the
Company Matching Contributions actually made on behalf of such Contributing Member under the Retirement Plan for such Plan Year. 

        In
addition, if (i) the total of such Contributing Member's salary deferrals under the Retirement Plan (as adjusted after application of the Limitations) and deferrals pursuant to
Sections 3.1, 3.2 or 3.3 under this Plan is less than 6.00% of such Contributing Member's Compensation, as limited by Code Section 401(a)(17), for a Plan Year; and (ii) the Contributing
Member elects to increase his or her deferrals under this Plan by all or any portion of any salary deferrals to the Retirement Plan that are returned to the Contributing Member as a result of the
application of the Limitations within 120 days after receipt of such returned salary deferrals, even if such increased deferrals are made in the next Plan Year; such increased deferrals shall
also be taken into account in subparagraph (a) above until the total of the Contributing 

6

 

Member's salary deferrals under the Retirement Plan and deferrals under this Plan for the Plan Year equals 6.00% of the Contributing Member's Compensation, as limited by Code
Section 401(a)(17). 

        As
of any Determination Date, the benefit to which a Member or his beneficiary shall be entitled under the Plan shall be equal to the amount credited to such Member's Account as of such
date. 

        4.2    Investment Credit.    As of each Determination Date, the Account of each Member shall be credited with
Investment Gains or Losses as provided in this Section 4.2. 

	(a)
	If
a Member has requested in accordance with Section 3.5 of the Plan that all or a portion of his Account be invested in any particular Investment(s), the Account of such
Member shall be credited with the Investment Gains or Losses since the preceding Determination Date.

	(b)
	Any
portion of a Member's Account, the investment of which has not been requested by the Member, shall be credited with the Earnings Credit for such Determination Date.

	(c)
	A
Member's Account shall not be credited with any Investment Credit under this Section 4.2 on the Company Matching Contributions portion credited to his Account as of the last
day of each Plan Year pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Plan until the Company actually makes the cash deposit of such Matching Contributions with the Trustee. 

 
 

ARTICLE V
  
    Vesting    
  

        All amounts credited to a Member's Account shall be fully vested and not subject to forfeiture for any reason; provided, however, the amounts credited to a
Member's Account pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 4.1, including any Earnings Credit and/or Investment Gains or Losses allocacable to such credits, shall be subject to the same
vesting schedule as that set forth in the Retirement Plan. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the benefits payable to each Member hereunder constitute an unfunded, unsecured obligation of the
Company, and the assets held by the Company and the Trustee remain subject to the claims of the Company's creditors. 

7

  

 
 

ARTICLE VI
  
    Trust    
  

        The Company may, from time to time and in its sole discretion, pay and deliver money or other property to the Trustee for the payment of benefits under the Plan.
Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, distributions due under the Plan to or on behalf of Members shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement
and the Plan; provided, however, that the Company shall remain obligated to pay all amounts due to such persons under the Plan. To the extent that Trust Assets are not sufficient to pay any amounts
due under the Plan to or on behalf of the Members when such amounts are due, the Company shall pay such amounts directly. Nothing in the Plan or the Trust Agreement shall relieve the Company of its
obligation to make the distributions required in Article VII hereof except to the extent that such obligation is satisfied by the application of funds held by the Trustee under the Trust
Agreement. Any recipient of benefits hereunder shall have no security or other interest in Trust Assets. Any and all Trust Assets shall remain subject to the claims of the general creditors of the
Company, present and future, and no payment shall be made under the Plan unless the Company is then solvent. Should an inconsistency or conflict exist between the specific terms of the Plan and those
of the Trust Agreement, then the relevant terms of the Trust Agreement shall govern and control. 

 
 

ARTICLE VII
  
    Payment of Benefits    
  

        7.1    Termination of Employment.    Upon a Member's termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate for
any reason, the amount credited to such Member's Account as of the Determination Date immediately preceding such Member's termination of employment, adjusted for any amount deferred and Earnings
Credit and Investment(s) Income or Loss realized from such Determination Date to the date of the Member's termination of employment, shall be distributed to such Member or, if the Member's termination
of employment is on account of death, to the Member's beneficiary as determined pursuant to Section 7.2 below. 

        7.2    Death.    Upon a Member's death, the amount credited to such Member's Account as of the Determination Date
immediately preceding the date of such Member's death, adjusted for any amount deferred and Earnings Credit and Investment Gains or Losses realized from such Determination Date to the date of the
Member's death, shall be distributed to such Member's designated beneficiary. The Member, by written instrument filed with the Committee in such manner and form as the Committee may prescribe, may
designate one or more beneficiaries to receive such payment. The beneficiary designation may be changed from time to time prior to the death of the Member. In the event that the Committee has no valid
beneficiary designation on file, the amount credited to such Member's Account shall be distributed to the Member's surviving spouse, if any, or if the Member has no surviving spouse, to the executor
or administrator of the Member's estate. 

        7.3    Targeted Deferrals.    If a Member has made one or more targeted deferrals pursuant to Section 3.4, upon
the date specified in any election form used by the Member to make such election, the amount credited in the subaccount of the Member's Account which relates to such deferral as of the Determination
Date immediately preceding such specified date shall be distributed to such Member. If some event takes place that would entitle a Member to a distribution under Sections 7.1 or 7.2 prior to such
specified date, the amounts in such subaccount shall be distributed along with any other amounts in the Member's Account pursuant to Section 7.1 or 7.2. 

        7.4    Time of Payment.    Payment of a Member's benefit hereunder shall be made (or commence if payment is in the
form of an annuity contract) as soon as administratively feasible following the date on which the Member or his beneficiary becomes entitled to such benefit pursuant to Sections 7.1, 7.2, or 7.3, but
no earlier than 10 days thereafter and no later than 45 days thereafter, except for the Company Matching Contributions as provided herein. If a Member's termination of employment or
death or any other events which caused termination of the Plan, occurs within the first four months of a year, the portion of the Company Matching Contributions for the preceding Plan Year that has
been credited to a Member's Account shall be distributed to such Member no later than the earlier of (i) the date of which the calculation of such contributions has been finalized or
(ii) May 1 of the year of termination of employment or death, or any other events which shall entitle the Member to a distribution. In all other events, the 10 days and 

8

 

45 days limitation shall apply to the distribution of the Member's entire Account balance, unless expressly provided otherwise. 

        7.5    Form of Payment.    Effective June 1, 2001, for purposes of distributing all of a Member's Account other
than any portion thereof attributable to targeted deferrals and earnings thereon, the form of any payment to a Member or his designated beneficiary shall be in substantially equal annual installments
over a period of ten (10) years, paid in cash or by certified check, with the first such payment to be made on the first business day of the calendar year following the Member's termination of
employment (for purposes of payments made pursuant to Section 7.1) or death (for purposes of payments made pursuant to Section 7.2), unless the Member has made an election to receive
such distribution in the form of a lump sum payment or in five (5) substantially equal installment payments in such manner and form as prescribed by the Committee. Any election, or subsequent
election, made by the Member pursuant to this Section shall not be effective until the passage of twelve (12) consecutive months before the date of the Member's termination of employment with
the Company or an Affiliate, if payment is required pursuant to Section 7.1, or the Member's date of death, if the payment is required pursuant to Section 7.2. All distributions of that
portion of a Member's Account attributable to any targeted deferral and earnings thereon shall be distributed in a single lump sum payment, in cash or certified check, on the date specified by the
Member in the election form used to make the targeted deferral, or as soon thereafter as administratively possible. 

 
 

ARTICLE VIII
  
    Hardship Distributions    
  

        Upon written application by a Member who has experienced an unforeseeable emergency, as determined by the Committee, the Committee may distribute to such Member
an amount not to exceed the lesser of the amount credited to such Member's Account or the amount determined by the Committee as being reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need. For purposes
of this Article VIII, a hardship distribution pursuant to an unforeseeable emergency shall be authorized in the event of severe financial hardship to the Member resulting from a sudden and
unexpected illness or accident of the Member or his dependent, loss of the Member's property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of
events beyond the Member's control. An unforeseeable emergency will not include the need to send a Member's child to college or the desire to purchase a home. Additionally, the Member must demonstrate
that the hardship may not be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Member's assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not
itself cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of deferrals under this Plan. 

 
 

ARTICLE IX
  
    Sale of the Company    
  

        In the event of a sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company, either (a) the purchaser shall assume the liabilities of the Plan
and shall continue to operate the Plan in accordance with the provisions set forth herein (including any subsequent amendments hereto) or (b) the Plan shall be terminated and the amount
credited to each Member's Account shall be distributed in a lump sum payment in cash or by certified check to each such Member in accordance with Section 7.4. However, should such sale result
in a Change of Control, the Plan shall be terminated and the amount credited to each Member's Account shall be distributed in a lump sum payment in cash or by certified check to each such Member in
accordance with Section 7.4. 

 
 

ARTICLE X
  
    Nature of the Plan    
  

        The Plan shall constitute an unfunded, unsecured obligation of the Company to make cash payments in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Plan is not
intended to meet the qualification requirements of section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Company in its sole discretion may set aside such amounts for the payment of
Accounts as the Company may from time to time determine. Neither the establishment of the Plan, the operation thereof, nor the setting aside of any amounts shall be deemed to create a funding
arrangement. No Member shall have any security or other interest in any such amounts set aside or any other assets of the Company. 

9

 

 
 

ARTICLE XI
  
    Employment Relationship    
  

        Nothing in the adoption or implementation of the Plan shall confer on any employee the right to continued employment by the Company or an Affiliate or affect in
any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate his employment at any time. Any question as to whether and when there has been a termination of a Member's employment, and the cause of
such termination, shall be determined by the Committee, and its determination shall be final. 

 
 

ARTICLE XII
  
    Amendment and Termination    
  

        The Company may amend or terminate the Plan, by resolution duly adopted, without the consent of the Members; provided, however, that no such amendment or
termination shall adversely affect any benefits which have been earned prior to any such amendment or termination. Further, upon termination of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
elect to distribute the amount credited to each Member's Account in a lump sum cash payment in accordance with Section 7.4; provided, however, in the event of a Change of Control, the amount
credited to each Member's Account must be distributed in accordance with Section 7.4. 

 
 

ARTICLE XIII
  
    Claims Procedure    
  

        The Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret, construe and administer the Plan, and the Committee's interpretations and construction hereof, and
actions hereunder, including the timing, form, amount or recipient of any payment to be made hereunder, shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes. In the event that an
individual's claim for a benefit is denied or modified, the Committee shall provide such individual with a written statement setting forth the specific reasons for such denial or modification in a
manner calculated to be understood by the individual. Any such written statement shall reference the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the denial or modification is based and shall explain
the Plan's claim review procedure. Such individual may, within forty-five (45) days of receipt of such written statement, make written request to the Committee for review of its
initial decision. Within forty-five (45) days following such request for review, the Committee shall, after affording such individual a reasonable opportunity for a full and fair
hearing, render its final decision in writing to such individual. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, should a Member's claim be related to the preceding Plan Year's Company Matching
Contributions, the Committee shall render its final decision on the later of (i) forty-five (45) days following such request for review, or (ii) 120 days after
the end of the preceding Plan Year. No member of the Committee shall be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of the Plan unless
attributable to his own willful misconduct or lack of good faith. Members of the Committee shall not participate in any action or determination regarding their own benefits hereunder. 

 
 

ARTICLE XIV
  
    Miscellaneous    
  

        14.1    Indemnification.    The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee and any other
persons acting on its behalf, against any and all expenses and liabilities arising out of his or her administrative functions or fiduciary responsibilities, excepting only expenses and liabilities
arising out of the individual's own willful misconduct or lack of good faith. Expenses against which such person shall be indemnified hereunder include, without limitation, the amounts of any
settlement or judgment, costs, counsel fees and related charges reasonably incurred in connection with a claim asserted or a proceeding brought or settlement thereof. 

        14.2    Effective Date.    The Plan shall become operative and effective as of the Effective Date and shall continue
until amended or terminated as provided in Article XII. 

        14.3    Withholding Taxes.    The Company shall have the right to deduct from any payments made under this Plan, any
federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments. 

10

 

        14.4    Nonalienation of Benefits.    Subject to income tax withholding, benefits payable under this Plan shall not be
subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution or levy of any kind, either voluntary or involuntary, including any
such liability which is for alimony or other payments for the support of a spouse or former spouse, or for any other relative of the Member, prior to actually being received; and any attempt to
anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, charge or otherwise dispose of any right to benefits payable hereunder shall be void. The Company shall not in any manner be liable for,
or subject to, the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any person entitled to benefits hereunder. 

        14.5    Severability.    If any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality
or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof; rather, each provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had
never been included herein. 

        14.6    Jurisdiction.    The situs of the Plan hereby created is Tennessee. All provisions of the Plan shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of Tennessee except to the extent preempted by federal law. 

11

 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this restated Plan to be executed effective as of January 1, 2002. 

	 	 	CHS/COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

/s/  LINDA K. PARSONS          
 Name: Linda K. Parsons

Title: Vice President—Human Resources

12

QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I Definitions and Construction

ARTICLE II Administration

ARTICLE III Participation

ARTICLE IV Benefits

ARTICLE V Vesting

ARTICLE VI Trust

ARTICLE VII Payment of Benefits

ARTICLE VIII Hardship Distributions

ARTICLE IX Sale of the Company

ARTICLE X Nature of the Plan

ARTICLE XI Employment Relationship

ARTICLE XII Amendment and Termination

ARTICLE XIII Claims Procedure

ARTICLE XIV Miscellaneous

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00049-of-00352.parquet"}]]