Subject to the approval of the commissioner, any life insurer of this State may set up, in addition to the reserve liabilities required pursuant to section 17B:19-2, reserves to provide for any additional liability at maturity, on the basis of rates of interest and of mortality appropriate to the valuation of annuities, on policies under which by their terms or otherwise a right has been or may be exercised to elect optional modes of settlement.
The commissioner shall, at the time of the annual valuation pursuant to section 17B:19-2, make or cause to be made a valuation of the additional reserves so set up, and shall thereupon include the amount of such additional reserves in any certification of reserves made pursuant to section 17B:19-2, specifying the mortality table or tables and rate or rates of interest used in the calculation of such additional reserves.
The basis of such additional reserves set aside by any insurer at the close of any year shall not thereafter be changed to a basis producing smaller aggregate reserves except upon approval by the commissioner of the insurer's application therefor.