(a) With regard to a contract issued by a corporation subject to the provisions of this article that provides hospital, surgical, or medical expense coverage or a contract of student accident and health insurance, as defined in subsection (a) of section three thousand two hundred forty of this chapter, no corporation shall because of sex, marital status or based on pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom, childbirth or related medical conditions:

1. (1) make any distinction or discrimination between persons as to the premiums or rates charged for the contract or in any other manner whatever;
2. (2) demand or require a greater premium from any person than it requires at that time from others in similar cases;
3. (3) make or require any rebate, discrimination or discount upon the amount to be paid or the service to be rendered on any contract;
4. (4) insert in the contract any condition, or make any stipulation, whereby the insured binds his or herself, or his or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, to accept any sum or service less than the full value or amount of such contract in case of a claim thereon except such conditions and stipulations as are imposed upon others in similar cases; and any such stipulation or condition so made or inserted shall be void;
5. (5) reject any application for a contract issued or sold by it;
6. (6) cancel or refuse to issue, renew or sell such contract after appropriate application therefor;
7. (7) fix any lower rate or discriminate in the fees or commissions of insurance agents or insurance brokers for writing or renewing such a contract; or
8. (8) engage in sexual stereotyping.