What information sources do life insurance underwriters typically use?

Life insurance underwriting draws on multiple sources: (1) The application — health questions answered by the applicant; (2) Medical Information Bureau (MIB) — an insurance industry database that shares medical and other risk information among member companies; (3) Attending physician statements — records from doctors the applicant has seen; (4) Medical exams — paramedical exam with blood, urine, height, weight, and sometimes EKG depending on coverage amount; (5) Prescription drug history — through services like ScriptCheck; (6) Motor vehicle records — for driving history and DUIs; (7) Inspection reports — third-party reports on lifestyle for larger policies. Producers should explain these sources to applicants. The applicant signs HIPAA authorization to release medical records.