Which best describes the function of the Medical Information Bureau (MIB)?

The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) plays a crucial role in the life and health insurance industry by maintaining underwriting information on applicants. This organization gathers and compiles data from various insurance companies, creating a centralized database that helps underwriters assess the risk of insuring a particular individual. When an applicant submits an insurance application, insurers can check the MIB database to obtain relevant medical history and risk-related information, ensuring they make informed decisions.

The MIB is particularly valuable because it helps mitigate the risk of insurance fraud by providing accurate and comprehensive information, allowing insurers to better evaluate the risk profiles of applicants. This can lead to more accurate premium pricing based on an individual's health status and history.

In contrast, the other choices involve different functions that do not accurately reflect the primary role of the MIB. The MIB does not protect insured individuals from insolvent insurers, serve as a health insurance rating organization, or primarily act as a collector of medical information from insured individuals directly. Its main purpose is focused on underwriting support by maintaining and sharing relevant applicant data among insurance providers.