• Upline Agency denial of agent release requests that are submitted between July 1 and September 30, 2021 will have a blackout period and will not result in agent release and change in agent affiliation until January 2, 2022.

• New appointment requests during the Blackout Period must include an approved release from previous Upline Agency. If this release is not included, the appointment request will not be processed until January 2, 2022.

• A limit of one release every 12 months will be accepted for all agents without an approval from the current Upline Agency.

• New & Faster release option for downline agents. We've added a NEW shorter 3-month release policy which will be in effect October 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022 .

Please Note - Release requests submitted prior to July 1, 2021. Release requests denied by the current Upline Agency and submitted prior to July 1, 2021 will continue to be subject to the existing six-month waiting period. The impacted agents will be released at the end of the six-month period.

Why are we adding a Blackout Period and a 3-month Release Option for Downline Agents? This change protects our Agency partners during the most critical months before and during the annual Medicare open enrollment period. Offering a faster 3-month release option gives agents more flexibility. Downline agents can continue to sell Anthem whether their Upline Agency honors their request for immediate release or requires a waiting period.