(a) If in any contract year the gross premium charged by a company on a policy or contract is less than the valuation net premium for the policy or contract calculated by the method used in calculating the reserve, but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest, the minimum reserve required for the policy or contract is the greater of either the reserve calculated according to the mortality table, rate of interest, and method actually used for the policy or contract, or the reserve calculated by the method actually used for the policy or contract but using the minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest and replacing the valuation net premium by the actual gross premium in each contract year for which the valuation net premium exceeds the actual gross premium. The minimum valuation standards of mortality and rate of interest referred to in this section are those standards stated in sections 536 and 538.
(b) For a life insurance policy issued on or after January 1 of the fourth calendar year commencing after the effective date of this subchapter for which the gross premium in the first policy year exceeds that of the second year and for which no comparable additional benefit is provided in the first year for the excess and which provides an endowment benefit or a cash surrender value or a combination in an amount greater than the excess premium, the provisions of this section must be applied as if the method actually used in calculating the reserve for the policy was the method described in section 539, ignoring 539(b). The minimum reserve at each policy anniversary of such a policy is the greater of the minimum reserve calculated in accordance with section 539, including section 539(b), and the minimum reserve calculated in accordance with this section.