Every insurer shall be subject to Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113. Insurers having direct premiums written of less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) in any calendar year and less than one thousand (1,000) policyholders or certificate holders of directly written policies nationwide at the end of such calendar year shall be exempt from Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113 for such year unless the commissioner makes a specific finding that compliance is necessary for the commissioner to carry out statutory responsibilities, except that insurers having assumed premiums pursuant to contracts and/or treaties of reinsurance of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) or more will not be so exempt.

Upon written application of any insurer, the commissioner may grant an exemption from compliance with Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113 if the commissioner finds, upon review of the application, that compliance with Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113 would constitute a financial or organizational hardship upon the insurer. An exemption may be granted at any time and from time to time for a specified period or periods. Within ten (10) days from a denial of an insurer’s written request for an exemption from Sections 83-5-101 through 83-5-113, such insurer may request in writing a hearing on its application for an exemption. Such hearing shall be held in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Insurance pertaining to administrative hearing procedures.