(a) Except as provided in section four, this article applies to all policy forms filed on or after July 1, 1983. No policy form shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state on or after July 1, 1986, unless approved by the commissioner or permitted to be issued under this article. Any policy form which has been approved or permitted to be issued prior to July 1, 1986, and which meets the standards set by this article need not be refiled for approval, but may continue to be lawfully delivered or issued for delivery in this state upon the filing with the commissioner of a list of such forms identified by form number and accompanied by a certificate as to each such form in the manner provided in subsection (d), section five of this article.
(b) The commissioner, may, at his discretion and after notice of hearing, extend the dates in subsection (a) of this section.