Medical Information Bureau (MIB)

It alerts the underwriter to information from prior insurance applications that may warrant further investigation — The Medical Information Bureau is a confidential data exchange among life and health insurers. When an applicant's MIB record shows coded information from earlier insurance applications that differs from the current application, the report flags the discrepancy and prompts the underwriter to investigate further — for example, by requesting an attending physician statement or additional tests. The MIB is a red-flag system, not a medical record source, and it is subject to strict confidentiality rules.

National insurance concept

Detect omissions or inconsistencies in the applicant's medical history across life insurance applications — The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) is an industry clearinghouse that codes and stores medical information reported by member insurers from previous life and health insurance applications. Underwriters request an MIB report to check for omissions or inconsistencies with the current application — for example, a condition disclosed on an earlier application but not on the current one. The MIB report does not diagnose or treat the applicant, does not replace the attending physician's statement (which is obtained separately when needed), and has no tax function. If an MIB report contributes to an adverse decision, the applicant must be notified.

National insurance concept