To whom may an applicant's medical information received from the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) be furnished?

The applicant's medical information obtained from the Medical Information Bureau (MIB) can be furnished to the applicant's physician. This is based on the principle of patient confidentiality and the right of individuals to access their own medical records. When an applicant is seeking insurance coverage, they may want their physician to have access to this information to help them understand their health status or address any potential concerns that could arise during the application process.

The MIB is a data exchange that provides information about an applicant's medical history to insurance companies, but there are strict regulations governing who can access this sensitive information. The intent is to ensure that individuals have the right to share and discuss their health information with their healthcare providers, which is essential for continuity of care and informed medical decisions.

Insurance companies have access to the MIB data primarily for underwriting purposes and to assess risk related to issuing coverage. However, this data should not be shared with third-party auditors, local health departments, or other entities without the explicit consent of the applicant. Thus, the law emphasizes the ability of individuals to coordinate their care with their physicians, making the option of furnishing medical information to the applicant's physician the correct choice.