§ 1502-a. Tax on non-life insurance corporations. In lieu of the tax imposed by section fifteen hundred one of this article, every domestic insurance corporation, every foreign insurance corporation and every alien insurance corporation, other than such corporations transacting the business of life insurance, (1) authorized to transact business in this state under a certificate of authority from the superintendent of financial services, (2) that is a risk retention group as defined in subsection (n) of § 5902 of the insurance law, or (3) that is a health maintenance organization required to obtain a certificate of authority under Article 44 of the public health law, shall, for the privilege of exercising corporate franchises or for carrying on business in a corporate or organized capacity within this state, and in addition to any other taxes imposed for such privilege, pay a tax on all gross direct premiums, less return premiums thereon, written on risks located or resident in this state. The tax imposed by this section shall be computed in the manner set forth in subdivision (a) of section fifteen hundred ten of this article as such subdivision applied to taxable years beginning before January first, two thousand three, except that the rate of tax imposed by this section shall be one and seventy-five hundredths percent on all gross direct premiums, less return premiums thereon, for accident and health insurance contracts, including contracts with health maintenance organizations for health services, and two percent on all other such premiums. All the other provisions in section fifteen hundred ten of this article as amended from time to time, other than subdivision (b) of such section, shall apply to the tax imposed by this section. In no event shall the tax imposed under this section be less than two hundred fifty dollars.