Any number of persons not less than seven, desiring to form a nonprofit hospital service corporation, shall incorporate under the provisions of the general laws of the State of North Carolina governing corporations, but subject to the following provisions:
(1) The certificate of incorporation of each such corporation shall have endorsed thereon or attached thereto, the consent of the Commissioner of Insurance, if he shall find the same to be in accordance with the provisions of this Article and Article 66 of this Chapter.
(2) A statement of the services to be rendered by the corporation and the rates currently to be charged therefor which said statement shall be accompanied by two copies of each contract for services which the corporation proposes to make with its subscribers, and two copies of the type of contract which said corporation proposes to make with participating hospitals, shall have been furnished the Commissioner of Insurance; provided, however, that if the articles of incorporation of any such corporation within the meaning of this Article and Article 66 of this Chapter shall have been filed with the Secretary of State prior to March 15, 1941, the approval thereof by the Commissioner of Insurance shall be evidenced by a separate instrument in writing filed with the Secretary of State. (1941, c. 338, s. 2.)