Definitions.

§ 8901. Definitions. For the purpose of this chapter— (1) “employee” means— (A) an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title; (B) a Member of Congress as defined by section 2106 of this title; (C) a Congressional employee as defined by section 2107 of this title; (D) the President; (E) an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; (F) an individual employed by Gallaudet College; (G) a United States Commissioner to whom subchapter 111 of chapter 83 of this title applies by operation of section 8331 (1) (E) of this title; and (H) an individual employed by a county committee established under section 59011(b) of title 16; but does not include— (i) an employee of a corporation supervised by the Farm Credit Administration if private interests elect or appoint a member of the board of directors; (ii) a noncitizen employee whose permanent duty station is outside the United States; (iii) an employee of the Tennessee Valley Authority; or (iv) an employee excluded by regulation of the Civil Service Commission under section 8913 (b) of this title; (2) “Government” means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia; (3) “annuitant” means— (A) an employee who retires on an immediate annuity under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title or another retirement system for employees of the Government, after 12 or more years of service or for disability; (B) a member of a family who receives an immediate annuity as the survivor of a retired employee described by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph or of an employee who dies after completing 5 or more years of service; (C) an employee who receives monthly compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title and who is determined by the Secretary of Labor to be unable to return to duty; and (D) a member of a family who receives monthly compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title as the surviving beneficiary of— (i) an employee who, having completed 5 or more years of service, dies as a result of injury or illness compensable under that subchapter; or (ii) a former employee who is separated after having completed 5 or more years of service and who dies while receiving monthly compensation under that subchapter and who has been held by the Secretary to have been unable to return to duty; (4) “service”, as used by paragraph (3) of this section, means service which is creditable under subchapter III of chapter 83 of this title; 80 Stat. 601 (5) “member of family” means the spouse of an employee or annuitant and an unmarried child under 21 years of age, including— (A) an adopted child; and (B) a stepchild, foster child, or recognized natural child who lives with the employee or annuitant in a regular parent-child relationship; or such an unmarried child regardless of age who is incapable of self-support because of mental or physical disability which existed before age 21; (6) “health benefits plan” means a group insurance policy or contract, medical or hospital service agreement, membership or subscription contract, or similar group arrangement provided by a carrier for the purpose of providing, paying for, or reimbursing expenses for health services; (7) “carrier” means a voluntary association, corporation, partnership, or other nongovernmental organization which is lawfully engaged in providing, paying for, or reimbursing the cost of, health services under group insurance policies or contracts, medical or hospital service agreements, membership or subscription contracts, or similar group arrangements, in consideration of premiums or other periodic charges payable to the carrier, including a health benefits plan duly sponsored or underwritten by an employee organization; and (8) “employee organization” means an association or other organization of employees which is national in scope, or in which membership is open to all employees of a Government agency who are eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan under this chapter, and which, before January 1, 1964, applied to the Commission for approval of a plan provided under section 8903(3) of this title.