No hospital service corporation shall be converted into a corporation organized for pecuniary profit. Every such corporation shall be operated for the benefit of the subscribers with whom it has contracted to provide hospital service. No person, firm, association or corporation, other than a hospital service corporation, or an insurance company authorized to transact the kinds of insurance specified in subdivisions c or d of section 17:17-1 of the Revised Statutes shall establish, maintain or operate a hospital service plan or otherwise contract in this State with persons to furnish hospital service. No hospital service corporation shall solicit subscribers or enter into any contract with any subscriber until it has received from the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance a certificate of authority to do so.
N.J.S. § 17:48-2