Which source provides underwriters with information about an applicant's medical history?

The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) is a vital resource for underwriters as it provides critical information about an applicant's medical history. The MIB is a private, nonprofit organization that maintains a database of medical information, including conditions, treatments, and previous insurance claims. This information is essential for underwriters to assess the risk associated with insuring an applicant, as it allows them to make more informed decisions regarding policy issuance and premium pricing.

Underwriters rely on the MIB because it compiles data from various insurance companies, which helps identify patterns in an applicant's health history that may not be disclosed in the application process. Thus, the MIB serves as an efficient means of verifying an applicant's medical information and ensuring that they have a complete understanding of the applicant’s health status.

The other options, while relevant to the broader healthcare and insurance landscape, do not serve this specific function. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides regulatory guidance but does not specifically track individual medical histories. The Social Security Administration handles aspects of social security benefits, and the Department of Health and Human Services oversees health policies but does not maintain a repository of insurance-related medical histories like the MIB does.