Act ) is regulated by such State. (8) Participating employer The term participating employer means, in connection with an association health plan, any employer, if any individual who is an employee of such employer, a partner in such employer, or a self-employed individual who is such employer (or any dependent, as defined under the terms of the plan, of such individual) is or was covered under such plan in connection with the status of such individual as such an employee, partner, or self-employed individual in relation to the plan. (9) Applicable state authority The term applicable State authority means, with respect to a health insurance issuer in a State, the State insurance commissioner or official or officials designated by the State to enforce the requirements of title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act for the State involved with respect to such issuer. (10) Qualified actuary The term qualified actuary means an individual who is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. (11) Affiliated member The term affiliated member means, in connection with a sponsor— (A) a person who is otherwise eligible to be a member of the sponsor but who elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, (B) in the case of a sponsor with members which consist of associations, a person who is a member of any such association and elects an affiliated status with the sponsor, or (C) in the case of an association health plan in existence on the date of the enactment of this part, a person eligible to be a member of the sponsor or one of its member associations. (12) Large employer The term large employer means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who employed an average of at least 51 employees on business days during the preceding calendar year and who employs at least 2 employees on the first day of the plan year. (13) Small employer The term small employer means, in connection with a group health plan with respect to a plan year, an employer who is not a large employer. (b) Rules