(a) This article shall apply to all types of health insurance offered by managed care plans.
(b) The purpose of this article is to promote the public welfare by regulating health insurance rates to the end that they shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Nothing in this article is intended to:
(1) Prohibit or discourage reasonable competition; or
(2) Prohibit or encourage, except to the extent necessary to accomplish the aforementioned purposes, uniformity in insurance rates, rating systems, rating plans, or practices.
This article shall be liberally interpreted to carry into effect this section.