Section 158.231 - Life-years used to determine credible experience(a) The life-years used to determine the credibility of an issuer's experience are the life-years for the MLR reporting year plus the life-years for the two prior MLR reporting years. If a State requires the small group market and individual market to be merged, then life-years used to determine credibility must be the life-years from the small group market and the individual market for the MLR reporting year plus the life-years from the small group market and the individual market for the two prior MLR reporting years.(b) For the 2011 MLR reporting year, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2011 MLR reporting year only.(c) For the 2012 MLR reporting year-(1) If an issuer's experience for the 2012 MLR reporting year is fully credible, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2012 MLR reporting year only;(2) If an issuer's experience for the 2012 MLR reporting year only is partially credible or non-credible, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2011 MLR reporting year plus the life-years for the 2012 MLR reporting year.(d) For the 2013 MLR reporting year for the student market only, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2013 MLR reporting year only.(e) For the 2014 MLR reporting year for the student market only-(1) If an issuer's experience for the 2014 MLR reporting year is fully credible, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2014 MLR reporting year only;(2) If an issuer's experience for the 2014 MLR reporting year only is partially credible or non-credible, the life-years used to determine credibility are the life-years for the 2013 MLR reporting year plus the life-years for the 2014 MLR reporting year. 75 FR 74921 , Dec. 1, 2010, as amended at 75 FR 82279 , Dec. 30, 2010; 77 FR 16469 , Mar. 21, 2012; 79 FR 30353 , May 27, 2014