What is the agent’s primary role in underwriting life insurance?

In the underwriting process for life insurance, as governed by Virginia Code § 38.2-1800 et seq., the agent’s primary role is to act as a field underwriter, ensuring the application provides accurate and complete information to the insurer (option A). This includes collecting personal data (e.g., age, health history) and verifying its correctness—e.g., asking about smoking habits or past surgeries—to enable the home office underwriter to assess risk properly. Option B (binding coverage immediately) is incorrect; agents typically lack authority to bind life insurance without insurer approval, unlike some property/casualty lines, unless a conditional receipt with premium is issued (Virginia Code § 38.2-3106), which isn’t “immediate” or primary. Option C (issuing the policy) is false; only the insurer’s home office issues policies after underwriting approval, not the agent. Option D (securing MIB information) is an underwriter’s task; agents don’t directly access the Medical Information Bureau—though they may note MIB codes if disclosed, their role is data collection, not retrieval. The study guide likely emphasizes the agent’s frontline duty with examples—e.g., ensuring a 45-year-old applicant discloses diabetes—making A the primary role, aligning with Virginia’s agency framework where agents facilitate, not finalize, underwriting.