Any person may apply to the director for a certificate of authority to establish and operate a health maintenance organization in compliance with the Health Maintenance Organization Act. No person shall establish or operate a health maintenance organization in this state without obtaining a certificate of authority under the act. Operating a health maintenance organization without a certificate of authority shall be a violation of the Unauthorized Insurers Act. A foreign corporation may qualify under the Health Maintenance Organization Act if it registers to do business in this state as a foreign corporation under the Nebraska Model Business Corporation Act and complies with the Health Maintenance Organization Act and other applicable state laws.