Group health insurance may be under a policy issued to an employer or trustees of a fund established by an employer, who shall be deemed the policyholder, insuring employees of such employer for the benefit of persons other than the employer. The term "employees" as used herein shall be deemed to include the officers, managers, and employees of the employer, the individual proprietor or partner if the employer is an individual proprietor or partnership, the officers, managers, and employees of subsidiary or affiliated corporations, the individual proprietor or partners and employees of individuals and firms, if the business of the employer and such individual or firm is under common control through stock ownership, contract, or otherwise. The term "employees" as used herein may include retired employees. No director of a corporate employer shall be eligible for insurance under the policy unless such person is otherwise eligible as a bona fide employee of the corporation, by performing services other than the usual duties of a director. A policy issued to insure employees of a public body may provide that the term "employees" shall include elected or appointed officials. The policy may provide that the term "employees" shall include the trustees or their employees, or both, if their duties are principally with such trusteeship.
SDCL 58-18-2