An applicant's character and personal habits can be obtained for underwriting purposes from which source?

• A. Credit report
• B. Investigative consumer report
• C. Medical records
• D. Policy underwriting file

Answer: (B)

The source used to obtain an applicant’s character and personal habits for underwriting is an investigative consumer report. This type of report dives into more than medical or financial history by gathering information about how a person lives, their habits, and their reputation, often through interviews with people who know the applicant (neighbors, friends, coworkers) and review of public records. The insurer typically obtains this with the applicant’s consent, and the report helps the underwriter assess overall risk beyond health data.

A credit report focuses on financial history, not character or personal habits. Medical records provide health information, not character traits. The policy underwriting file is the insurer’s internal collection of documents; it may contain information from various sources, but it’s not the external source specifically used to learn about character and personal habits.