In approving a plan or plans of health and welfare benefits, the local agency may approve policies of life, health, legal expense, and accident insurance, or any of them, from an admitted insurer or from a nonprofit membership corporation, as defined in Section 1157, wherein a bona fide association, as defined in Section 1157.1, is the policyholder or contractholder, for the benefit of the agency and the officers and employees authorizing the purchase.