(a) Scope and general standards.      
        (1) Pursuant to Insurance Code §425.072, all individual and group accident and health insurance coverages, including single premium credit accident and health insurance contracts, issued on and after January 1, 2017, are required to follow the standards and reserve requirements provided in the valuation manual adopted by the department pursuant to Insurance Code §425.073.       
        (2) In establishing claim reserves for all individual and group accident and health insurance coverages issued before January 1, 2017, and single premium credit accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2017, the provisions of this paragraph apply. An insurer may use applicable requirements in the valuation manual for claim reserves for valuations after December 31, 2016, and before January 1, 2019, and must use applicable requirements in the valuation manual for claim reserves for valuations after December 31, 2018.       
        (3) Unless paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection applies, the standards in this subchapter apply to all individual and group accident and health insurance coverages issued before January 1, 2017, as well as single premium credit accident and health insurance contracts issued on or after January 1, 2009, and before January 1, 2017. All other credit insurance is not subject to the requirements provided by this paragraph.       
        (4) When an insurer determines that adequacy of its health insurance reserves requires reserves in excess of the minimum standards specified in this subchapter, such increased reserves must be held and must be considered the minimum reserves for that insurer.       
        (5) With respect to any block of contracts, or with respect to an insurer's health business as a whole, a prospective gross premium valuation is the ultimate test of reserve adequacy as of a given valuation date. Such a gross premium valuation would take into account, for contracts in force, in a claims status, or in a continuation of benefits status on the valuation date, the present value as of the valuation date of: all expected benefits unpaid, all expected expenses unpaid, and all unearned or expected premiums, adjusted for future premium increases reasonably expected to be put into effect.       
        (6) Such a gross premium valuation must be performed whenever a significant doubt exists as to reserve adequacy with respect to any major block of contracts, or with respect to the insurer's health business as a whole. In the event inadequacy is found to exist, immediate loss recognition must be made and the reserves restored to adequacy. Adequate reserves (inclusive of claim, premium, and contract reserves, if any) must be held with respect to all contracts, regardless of whether contract reserves are required for such contracts under the standards required under this subchapter.       
        (7) Whenever minimum reserves, as defined in this subchapter, exceed reserve requirements as determined by a prospective gross premium valuation, such minimum reserves remain the minimum requirement under these standards.       
      (b) Categories of reserves. The following sections set forth minimum standards for three categories of health insurance reserves: §3.7002 of this title (relating to Claim Reserves); §3.7003 of this title (relating to Premium Reserves); and §3.7004 of this title (relating to Contract Reserves). Adequacy of an insurer's health insurance reserves is to be determined on the basis of all three categories combined. However, the standards in these sections emphasize the importance of determining appropriate reserves for each of the three categories separately.     
      (c) Sections 3.7006, 3.7007, 3.7008, and 3.7009. Section 3.7006 and §3.7007 of this title (relating to Specific Standards for Morbidity, Interest, and Mortality; and Glossary of Technical Terms Used) are an integral part of the standards specified in §§3.7001 - 3.7005 of this title (relating to Introduction; Claims Reserves; Premium Reserves; Contract Reserves and Reinsurance). Section 3.7008 of this title (relating to Reserves for Waiver of Premium) is supplementary and is not part of the standards as such, but is included for explanatory and illustrative purposes only. Section 3.7006 of this title contains specific minimum standards with respect to morbidity, interest, and mortality, which apply to claim reserves according to year of incurral and to contract reserves according to year of issue. Section 3.7007 of this title consists of a glossary of technical terms used. Section 3.7008 of this title is supplementary and deals with waiver of premium reserves. For the purchase of existing business under certain circumstances, see §3.7009 of this title (relating to Purchase or Assumption of Existing Business).     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §3.7001 adopted to be effective July 6, 1992, 17 TexReg 4541; amended to be effective January 26, 2010, 35 TexReg 485; amended to be effective December 3, 2018, 43 TexReg 7792