Accident and health insurance on a franchise plan is hereby declared to be that form of accident and health insurance issued to:

where such 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 such persons under an arrangement whereby the premiums on such policies may be paid to the insurer periodically by the employer, with or without payroll deductions, or by the association for its members, or by some designated person acting on behalf of such employer or association. The term “employees” as used herein may be deemed to include the officers, managers and employees of the employer and the individual proprietor or partners if the employer is an individual proprietor or partnership.