(a) As used in this Code section, the term "employees" means the officers, managers, and employees and retired employees of the employer and the individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietor or partnership.

(b) Accident and sickness insurance on a franchise plan is that form of accident and sickness insurance issued to:

(1) Two or more employees of any corporation, copartnership, or individual employer or any governmental corporation, agency, or department thereof; or

(2) Ten or more members, employees, or employees of members of any trade or professional association or of a labor union or of any other association having had an active existence for at least two years, where the association or union has a constitution or bylaws and is formed in good faith for purposes other than that of obtaining insurance; where the persons, with or without their dependents, are issued the same form of an individual policy varying only as to amounts and kinds of coverage applied for by the persons under an arrangement whereby the premiums on the policies may be paid to the insurer periodically by the employer, with or without payroll deductions, or by the association or union for its members, or by some designated person acting on behalf of such employee or association or union.