What Is the Medical Information Bureau (MIB)?


MIB, formerly known as the Medical Information Bureau, is a not-for-profit, member-owned corporation that has served life insurers in the U.S. and Canada since 1902. MIB helps life insurance companies evaluate applicants effectively through detailed MIB reports during the underwriting process. This bureau manages a comprehensive consumer database that enhances the accuracy and efficiency of medical underwriting in life insurance.

Key Takeaways

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The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) does not collect detailed personal medical data, which is protected by HIPAA regulations. MIB information is based on coded indications of medical conditions, tests or risky behaviors reported by member companies.

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You are free to access your MIB report at any time and can request a copy of the report for free once per year.

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Most major insurance companies in the U.S. and Canada are members of the MIB, utilizing its consumer databases to ensure accurate underwriting.

The Purpose of the MIB

The MIB or MIB Group, Inc. plays a vital role in the insurance sector by enhancing the underwriting process for life insurance companies across the U.S. and Canada. As a collaborative organization owned by its member insurers, the MIB maintains a consumer database that allows insurance companies to assess applicants more accurately and screen them for past or current medical conditions. In addition to consumer medical information, the MIB collects information about dangerous hobbies and traffic violations. This information helps insurers reduce and prevent fraud.

When consumers apply for insurance, the information they provide about their habits and medical histories is sent to the MIB insurance database. Information that insurers uncover during underwriting can also be added to the MIB consumer file, and any member company can then access the information if that person files for insurance. The process helps ensure that an applicant's medical information from the MIB is utilized effectively to protect insurers and policyholders alike.

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Insurance offered by an employer does not typically require an MIB report, which means you’re automatically covered. The absence of an MIB check streamlines the enrollment process, making it simpler and more direct for employees.

Who Forms the Medical Information Bureau?

The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) consists of a network of insurance companies that strive to safeguard the integrity of the industry. It was created to protect the industry and its customers by enabling the secure exchange of underwriting information, which prevents fraudulent claims and ensures fair policy pricing.

This collaboration of insurance providers forms a robust framework where MIB records are shared responsibly among member companies, enhancing the accuracy of risk assessment and supporting the overall health of the insurance sector.

Member companies, which collectively define MIB, maintain and update a vast MIB database that includes MIB medical records and MIB consumer file information. By sharing information, the Medical Information Bureau helps ensure that insurance pricing reflects actual risk and that policies are issued based on accurate and complete data, protecting both the insurers and the insured.

How the MIB Works

The MIB functions in a way that’s similar to a credit bureau. While a credit bureau tracks your credit history using lender-provided information like your credit cards and loans, the MIB tracks your medical history to help insurance companies decide how insurable you are. Types of insurance that require MIB reports include:

  • Life insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Disability income
  • Critical illness
  • Long-term care

The meaning of MIB in insurance centers on its function as a protective tool for insurers, ensuring that underwriting decisions are based on thorough and accurate medical information. MIB codes support this process, standardizing the recording of health conditions, treatments and medical consultations. MIB reports make data accessible and interpretable across the industry.

Additionally, insurers can use the MIB records to detect patterns or discrepancies that may indicate undisclosed medical conditions. This process strengthens the integrity of the insurance industry while protecting policyholders by promoting transparency. For applicants, understanding the role of MIB reports is essential, as the information it contains directly influences their eligibility and premium rates. MIB disclosure ensures that data is shared responsibly, balancing between consumer privacy and industry needs.

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LIFE INSURANCE IF YOU HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or illness like cancer, you may not be confident that you’ll pass an insurance underwriting process. In this case, there are different types of life insurance that do not require a medical exam or underwriting. These include:

  • Group Life Insurance
  • Simplified and Guaranteed Issue Whole Life Insurance
  • Mortgage Life Insurance
  • Final Expense Life Insurance

Information the MIB Collects

Your Medical Information Bureau report includes information about your medical history, including diagnoses and treatment of illness, as well as other personal factors like your driving record, employment and whether or not you participate in dangerous activities, like skydiving. The information listed in the MIB report includes:

  • Date of any previous life insurance applications
  • Date of diagnosis or treatment for an illness
  • Medical conditions, including mental health
  • Types of treatment for medical conditions
  • Where the medical history came from
  • Driving record, including accidents and tickets
  • Criminal activity, including arrests
  • Occupation status
  • Travel to foreign countries
  • Participation in dangerous activities, like skydiving

Insurance companies use the information in the MIB report to assess your application. While the MIB report is not the only factor that insurance consider, it helps insurers verify that the information you provided in your application is accurate.

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MONEYGEEK DICTIONARY

Insurance Underwriting: The assessment of the risks you present when applying for insurance and how these risks affect your insurance premium and coverage.

Is User Data Safe With MIB?

The MIB takes steps to ensure that user data is safe and that an individual’s data is private. It employs MIB codes and only includes information pertinent to an insurance application. The MIB doesn’t collect or store medical records; it only collects information about your medical history. Access to your MIB report is limited to you and the insurance companies, ensuring confidentiality and security.   Importantly, individuals must consent to the use of their MIB data as part of the insurance application process. Additionally, the MIB provides data only when requested by a member insurer and with the specific consent of the insurance applicant.

WHAT ARE MIB CODES?

MIB codes are alphanumeric identifiers the Medical Information Bureau uses to encode specific medical conditions and lifestyle factors in a compact and standardized format. These codes are essential to the MIB's function, allowing for a streamlined and confidential way to communicate sensitive medical information between insurers. Each code corresponds to a particular medical condition or relevant lifestyle detail, which helps insurance companies quickly assess the risk associated with an insurance applicant without exposing detailed personal health information.

How Insurers Use MIB Reports for Life Insurance Applications

When evaluating life insurance applications, insurers utilize MIB records to ensure the information applicants provide is accurate and complete. An MIB insurance check offers access to a consolidated record of medical and non-medical information that may affect an applicant's insurability.

Below are ways insurers use the MIB database for life insurance:

  • Verification of Application Data: Insurers perform an MIB check to compare the information submitted by the applicant against what is stored in the MIB insurance database. This helps identify any discrepancies or omissions that might suggest misrepresentation or fraud.

  • Risk Assessment: The comprehensive data available through an MIB life insurance search allows insurers to assess the risk associated with insuring an individual more accurately. This includes medical conditions, lifestyle choices and other risk factors detailed in the MIB report.

  • Policy Pricing and Terms: Based on the findings from the MIB reports, insurers can more accurately set premiums and policy terms that reflect the true risk of insuring the applicant. This ensures that policies are priced fairly according to the risk they represent.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Using the MIB insurance database helps insurers comply with regulatory requirements by assessing all relevant risks before issuing a policy.

Many insurers use MIB data in their underwriting process, serving as a tool for maintaining the reliability and integrity of insurance practices.

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If you're trying to locate a lost life insurance policy, leveraging the MIB life insurance search tool can be an invaluable resource. It can help you uncover any policies a deceased family member may have applied for or held, as the MIB tracks applications and medical underwriting information linked to individual profiles. Conducting an MIB insurance check can reveal important details about existing policies, potentially uncovering benefits that may otherwise go unclaimed. This process ensures you are fully aware of any insurance assets, facilitating their retrieval and proper management.

How to Ask for a Copy of Your MIB Report

You can request a free copy of your MIB report once per year. You can access your report online or over the phone.

This report will include the same information that an insurer will see when assessing a policy application, which are the following:

  • Any medical and personal information that the MIB has in its database, along with who reported the information and when it was reported
  • The name of any MIB member company that received or requested your MIB report
  • Information about disability benefits for which you’ve applied if you previously applied for disability income insurance

Review your MIB report to check if it's accurate and error-free. This will help ensure that your application is fairly assessed.

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    Online

    You can request your MIB report electronically by visiting the Medical Information Bureau website at www.mib.com. Please note that the online form is unavailable on Saturdays from 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time and on Sundays from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern Time.

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    Phone

    You can call the MIB phone number (1-866-692-6901); its voice queue is available from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except on holidays.

Reviewing your MIB report is also an opportunity to understand how an applicant's medical information received from the Medical Information Bureau is used in insurance evaluations.

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If you have additional inquiries or want to know more about the role of MIB in insurance, consider visiting the organization’s website at www.mib.com. It provides detailed information about how the Medical Information Bureau is utilized within the industry to protect both insurers and insureds by promoting transparent and fair practices.

Disputing or Changing an MIB Report

If you find any errors in your MIB report, you can take steps to dispute or change this information. To do so, you’ll need to submit a signed Request for Reinvestigation Form and provide information including your name, date of birth, where you live, your Social Security number and any items that you believe to be incomplete or inaccurate.

Once submitted, the MIB will review the contested information using the details provided in their MIB insurance database and compare it against the data initially reported. This process ensures that any corrections are accurate and reflect your actual medical and personal history. You can contact them directly using the Medical Information Bureau's phone number on their website for guidance on this process. Remember, ensuring the accuracy of your MIB report is critical for fair treatment in future insurance applications and risk assessments.

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Periodically reviewing your MIB report is important to ensure its accuracy and completeness. This step will help you guarantee a fair assessment of future insurance applications.

FAQ About the MIB

We’ve answered some frequently asked questions about the MIB to help you understand how it works.

What is the MIB?

Who makes up the MIB?

What is the purpose of the MIB?

What would the MIB identify?

Where does MIB get its information?

Does the MIB have a record of whether you've been declined or rated for insurance?

How long does the MIB have your records?

What is an MIB report?

How does an MIB report affect the life insurance application process?

What are MIB members required to report?

Is the MIB a government agency?

About Mark Fitzpatrick


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Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.


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