Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purposes of this section and section 62A.148, the terms defined in this section shall have the meanings here given them.

Subd. 2. Covered employee. "Covered employee" means any person who, at the time that person suffered an injury resulting in total disability or became totally disabled by reason of illness, was employed by and receiving a salary, commission, hourly wage, or other remuneration for services by any employer providing, offering or contributing to group insurance coverage or group coverage through a health maintenance contract, for that employee who was so enrolled for the coverage.

Subd. 3. Total disability. "Total disability" means (a) the inability of an injured or ill employee to engage in or perform the duties of the employee's regular occupation or employment within the first two years of such disability and (b) after the first two years of such disability, the inability of the employee to engage in any paid employment or work for which the employee may, by education and training, including rehabilitative training, be or reasonably become qualified.

Subd. 4. Group insurance. "Group insurance" means any policy or contract of accident and health protection, including health maintenance contracts, regardless of by whom underwritten, which provides benefits, including cash payments for reimbursement of expenses or the provision of usual needed health care and medical services as the result of any injury, sickness, disability or disease suffered by a group of employees, or any one of them, and which protection is paid for or otherwise provided in full or in part by an employer.

Subd. 5. Employer. "Employer" means any natural person, company, corporation, partnership, association, firm, or franchise which employs any employee.

Subd. 6. Insurer. "Insurer" means any person, company, corporation including a nonprofit corporation and a health maintenance organization, partnership, association, firm or franchise which underwrites or is by contract or other agreement obligated to provide accident and health protection benefits to any group of employees of any employer.

History: 1973 c 340 s 1; 1984 c 464 s 6; 1986 c 444