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Policy

Topflight Release Policy

Topflight grants releases between January 2 and August 31. Allow up to 14 business days for Top of Hierarchy signatures, and note that no release is granted within 90 days of marketing support or event sponsorship. AEP 2027 carrier blackout deadlines are listed below.

At Topflight, we value professionalism, accountability, and the significant investments we make in supporting our agents. To ensure fairness and compliance, all release requests are subject to the following guidelines.

01

Release Period

Releases are granted only during the period of January 2 – August 31. Requests submitted outside this window will not be processed.

02

Processing Timeline

Once the Reciprocal Release is returned, please allow up to 14 business days to obtain all required Top of Hierarchy signatures.

03

Marketing & Event Investment

No release will be granted if Topflight has provided marketing support, reimbursements, or event sponsorship for the agent within the last 90 days.

04

Use of Topflight Resources

All Topflight resources (training materials, guides, templates, branding assets, etc.) must be immediately destroyed upon release. Resources may not be duplicated, copied, or used after termination.

AEP 2027 Carrier Blackout Deadlines

Carrier contract transfer deadlines for AEP 2027. Source: Spark Advisors, confirmed as of June 30, 2026. Not all carriers are represented.

Missing a blackout deadline means your transfer cannot be processed in time for AEP 2027. Start early, especially for carriers with deadlines coming up soon.

Two types of transfer. With Release means your current upline has signed a release letter, allowing immediate processing. Without Release usually starts a 60–90 day waiting period for most carriers.

Showing 50 of 54 deadlines, plus 4 estimated

June

UnitedHealthcare

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

May 31, 2026Passed

CareSource

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 3, 2026Passed

Healthspring

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 17, 2026Passed

Anthem

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 30, 2026Passed

Freedom

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 30, 2026Passed

HealthSun

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 30, 2026Passed

Select Health

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jun 30, 2026Passed

July

Clover

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 1, 2026Passed

Highmark

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 1, 2026Passed

Aetna

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 3, 2026Passed

Humana

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Jul 15, 2026Passed

Humana

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 15, 2026Passed

Gold Kidney

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 17, 2026Passed

Kelsey Seybold

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Jul 31, 2026Passed

August

Eternal

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 2, 2026Passed

Wellcare

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 7, 2026Passed

Devoted

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 14, 2026Passed

Transfers 8/15–10/8 will not be effective until 12/8

BCBS MI

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

BCBS MI

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

BCBS SC

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

BCBS SC

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

CareSource

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

Kelsey Seybold

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

Memorial Hermann

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

Memorial Hermann

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

UnitedHealthcare

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026Passed

September

SCAN

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 1, 2026Passed

Banner

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 14, 2026Passed

Banner

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 14, 2026Passed

HealthSpring

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 14, 2026Passed

Alignment

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 15, 2026Passed

Alignment

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 15, 2026Passed

SCAN

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 15, 2026Passed

Wellcare

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 20, 2026Passed

Aetna

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Astiva

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Astiva

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

BCBS AZ

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

BCBS AZ

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Clever Care

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Clever Care

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Clover

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Eternal

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Highmark

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Molina

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Molina

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Select Health

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Zing

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

Zing

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Sep 30, 2026Passed

October

Gold Kidney

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Oct 14, 202611 days left

Estimated dates — not yet confirmed

Doctor's Health Plan

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Estimated AugustEstimated

Doctor's Health Plan

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Estimated AugustEstimated

HAP

Transfer type

With Release

Deadline

Estimated end of SeptEstimated

HAP

Transfer type

Without Release

Deadline

Estimated end of SeptEstimated

Special case

Anthem with a valid release can transfer at any time. No blackout date applies.

No blackout date

These carriers have no blackout date. Transfers can be processed at any time, with or without release:

  • BCBS TN
  • El Paso
  • Essence
  • Imperial
  • Prominence
  • Solis
  • Verda

ACA Carrier Blackout Periods

Requesting new and/or transfers of contracts and appointments will not be allowed during these periods. Carriers not included here do not have an announced blackout period yet.

Showing 17 of 17 carrier periods

Ambetter

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

06/16

End

04/15

Avmed

New

Yes

Transfer

Yes

Starting

11/2024

End

TBA

BCBS AZ

New

Yes

Transfer

Yes

Starting

11/01

End

01/31

BCBS MI

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

09/01

End

01/31

BCBS NC

New

Yes

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/01

End

03/31

BCBS SC

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

09/01

End

03/01

Christus Health

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

09/01

End

01/31

Harbor Health

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/15

End

01/01

Highmark

New

Yes

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/01

End

12/10

Imperial Health

New

Yes

Transfer

—

Starting

08/31

End

03/31

Jefferson Health

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

06/30

End

03/01

Molina

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/01

End

01/31

Oscar

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

09/01

End

05/31

Priority Health

New

Yes

Transfer

—

Starting

08/01

End

08/31

Priority Health

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/01

End

01/10

SummaCare

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/15

End

12/12

UHC

New

—

Transfer

Yes

Starting

10/01

End

02/01

All dates are subject to the carrier's discretion and may change without prior notice.

Source: BenaVest

Carrier Release & Transfer Forms

Cigna Med Supp logo

Cigna Med Supp

  1. Step 1:Fill out the form.
  2. Step 2:Send the completed form to support@topflightagent.com
  3. Step 3:Wait 1–3 days for the form to be signed by your upline (Topflight).
  4. Step 4:Return the form to Cigna.

Cigna Supplemental Benefits

Open Cigna Release Form
Aetna MAPD logo

Aetna MAPD

  1. Step 1:Fill out the form.
  2. Step 2:Send the completed form to support@topflightagent.com
  3. Step 3:Wait 1–3 days for the form to be signed by your immediate upline (Topflight).
  4. Step 4:Wait 1–2 weeks for the form to be signed by Top of Hierarchy.
Open Aetna Release Form
Wellcare Transfer logo

Wellcare Transfer

  1. Step 1:The transfer instructions start on page 39 of the PDF.
  2. Step 2:To transfer TO Topflight or an agency under Topflight, type in your direct upline's agency name.
  3. Step 3:If you are direct to Topflight, type: "Topflight Insurance Solutions".
Open Wellcare Transfer PDF (page 39)

Forms ready?

Once your forms are complete, submit your release request.

Submit Agent Release Request

Questions about this policy?

If you have any questions or concerns about this Release Policy, please contact us.

support@m.topflightagent.com

In short

The release policy in five lines

  • ◆Releases are granted between January 2 and August 31. Requests outside the window are not processed.
  • ◆Allow up to 14 business days after the reciprocal release is returned for all Top of Hierarchy signatures.
  • ◆No release is granted within 90 days of Topflight marketing support, reimbursements or event sponsorship.
  • ◆With release means your current upline signed a release letter and the transfer processes immediately. Without release usually starts a 60 to 90 day waiting period with most carriers.
  • ◆Completed forms go to support@topflightagent.com. Topflight resources must be destroyed upon release.

Transferring to Topflight from another FMO? The same deadlines apply in reverse: a carrier accepts your transfer only before its blackout date, with or without a release from your current upline. Start with the contracting application and tell us which carriers you hold; the Care Team checks each deadline below against your list.

Sources: Topflight release policy; AEP 2027 deadlines from Spark Advisors, confirmed June 30, 2026; ACA blackout periods from BenaVest. The Avmed ACA row has not been confirmed since November 2024; verify with BenaVest before relying on it.

Frequently asked

Questions agents ask about Releases & Transfers

When can I request a release from Topflight?

Releases are granted only between January 2 and August 31. Requests outside the window are not processed, and no release is granted within 90 days of marketing support or event sponsorship.

How long does a release take?

Allow up to 14 business days after the reciprocal release is returned to obtain all Top of Hierarchy signatures. Cigna Med Supp takes 1 to 3 days for the upline signature; Aetna MAPD adds 1 to 2 weeks for Top of Hierarchy.

What is the difference between a transfer with and without release?

With Release means your current upline signed a release letter, so the transfer processes immediately. Without Release usually starts a 60 to 90 day waiting period with most carriers.

Which carriers have no blackout date?

BCBS TN, El Paso, Essence, Imperial, Prominence, Solis and Verda can be transferred at any time, with or without release. Anthem with a valid release can transfer at any time.

Last updated: · Reviewed by Joanna Wyckoff, Founder. Published by the Topflight Data Desk.