VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B OF AETNA LIFE INS & ANNUITY CO
485APOS, 1996-02-27
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange         Registration No. 33-34370*
Commission on February 27, 1996                   Registration No. 811-2512

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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM N-4

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                       POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 21 TO
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                and Amendment To

         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

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     Variable Annuity Account B of Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
                           (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT)

                    Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
                               (NAME OF DEPOSITOR)

            151 Farmington Avenue, RE4C, Hartford, Connecticut 06156
         (ADDRESS OF DEPOSITOR'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

       Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code:  (860) 273-7834

                            Susan E. Bryant, Counsel
                    Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
            151 Farmington Avenue, RE4C, Hartford, Connecticut  06156
                     (NAME AND ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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It is proposed that this filing will become effective:


          X         on May 1, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
      --------

*Pursuant to Rule 429(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, Registrant has
included a combined prospectus under this Registration Statement which includes
all the information which would currently be required in a prospectus relating
to the securities covered by the following earlier Registration Statement:  33-
87932.

Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Registrant has
registered an indefinite number of securities under the Securities Act of 1933.
Registrant expects to file a Rule 24f-2 Notice for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1995 on or before February 29, 1996.


<PAGE>

                           VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B
                              CROSS REFERENCE SHEET


Form N-4
Item No.            Part A (Prospectus)                          Location

   1        Cover Page . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Cover Page

   2        Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . .       Definitions

   3        Synopsis or Highlights . . . . . . .       Prospectus Summary; Fee
                                                       Table

   4        Condensed Financial Information. . .       Condensed Financial
                                                       Information

   5        General Description of Registrant, .       The Company; Variable
            Depositor, and Portfolio Companies .       Annuity Account B; The
                                                       Funds

   6        Deductions and Expenses. . . . . . .       Charges and Deductions;
                                                       Distribution

   7        General Description of Variable
            Annuity Contracts. . . . . . . . . .       Purchase; Miscellaneous

   8        Annuity Period . . . . . . . . . . .       Annuity Period

   9        Death Benefit. . . . . . . . . . . .       Death Benefit During
                                                       Accumulation Period;
                                                       Death Benefit Payable
                                                       During the Annuity
                                                       Period

  10        Purchases and Contract Value . . . .       Purchase; Contract
                                                       Valuation

  11        Redemptions. . . . . . . . . . . . .       Right to Cancel;
                                                       Withdrawals

  12        Taxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Tax Status

  13        Legal Proceedings. . . . . . . . . .       Miscellaneous - Legal
                                                       Matters and Proceedings

  14        Table of Contents of the Statement .       Contents of the Statement
            of Additional Information  . . . . .       of Additional Information

<PAGE>


Form N-4
Item No.     Part B (Statement of Additional Information)     Location

  15        Cover Page . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Cover page

  16        Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . .       Table of Contents

  17        General Information and History. . .       General Information and
                                                       History

  18        Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       General Information and
                                                       History; Independent
                                                       Auditors

  19        Purchase of Securities Being Offered       Offering and Purchase of
                                                       Contracts

  20        Underwriters . . . . . . . . . . . .       Offering and Purchase of
                                                       Contracts

  21        Calculation of Performance Data. . .       Performance Data; Average
                                                       Annual Total Return
                                                       Quotations

  22        Annuity Payments . . . . . . . . . .       Annuity Payments

  23        Financial Statements . . . . . . . .       Financial Statements


                           PART C (OTHER INFORMATION)

Information required to be included in Part C is set forth under the appropriate
item, so numbered, in Part C to this Registration Statement.

<PAGE>
                                   PROSPECTUS
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This  Prospectus describes  the "Aetna Marathon  Plus" [Growth  Plus (New York)]
group and individual deferred variable annuity contracts ("Contracts") issued by
Aetna Life  Insurance and  Annuity Company  (the "Company").  The Contracts  are
available  as  (1)  nonqualified  deferred  annuity  contracts,  (2)  Individual
Retirement Annuities under Section 408(b) of  the Internal Revenue Code, or  (3)
subject  to state regulatory approval,  qualified contracts issued in connection
with  certain  employer  sponsored  retirement  plans.  In  most  states,  group
Contracts  are offered, generally to certain broker-dealers which have agreed to
act as distributors of the Contracts. Individuals who have established  accounts
with   those  broker-dealers  are  eligible  to  participate  in  the  Contract.
Individual Contracts are offered only in those states where the group  Contracts
are not authorized for sale. (See "Purchase.")

The  Contracts  provide  that  contributions  may  be  allocated  to  the  ALIAC
Guaranteed Account (the "Guaranteed Account"), a credited interest option, or to
one or more of the Subaccounts of Variable Annuity Account B, a separate account
of the  Company. The  Subaccounts invest  directly in  shares of  the  following
Funds:

 - Aetna Variable Fund                  - Fidelity VIP Equity-Income
 - Aetna Income Shares                  Portfolio
 - Aetna Variable Encore Fund           - Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio
 - Aetna Investment Advisers Fund,      - Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio
 Inc.                                   - Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio
 - Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio      - Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager
 - Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio  Portfolio
 - Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio      - Fidelity VIP II Contrafund
 - Alger American Balanced Portfolio    Portfolio
 - Alger American Growth Portfolio      - Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio
 - Alger American Income and Growth     - Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade
 Portfolio                              Bond Portfolio
 - Alger American Leveraged AllCap      - Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth
 Portfolio                              Portfolio
 - Alger American MidCap Growth         - Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio
 Portfolio                              - Janus Aspen Flexible Income
 - Alger American Small Cap Portfolio   Portfolio
 - Federated American Leaders Fund II   - Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio
 - Federated Fund for U.S. Government   - Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond
 Securities II                          Portfolio
 - Federated Growth Strategies Fund II  - Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth
 - Federated High Income Bond Fund II   Portfolio
 - Federated International Equity Fund  - Lexington Emerging Markets Fund
 II                                     - Lexington Natural Resources Trust
 - Federated Prime Money Fund II        - TCI Balanced (a Twentieth Century
 - Federated Utility Fund II            fund)
                                        - TCI Growth (a Twentieth Century
                                        fund)
                                        - TCI International (a Twentieth
                                        Century fund)

Except  as specifically  mentioned, this  Prospectus describes  only investments
through the  Separate  Account.  The  Guaranteed Account  is  described  in  the
Appendix  to this Prospectus, as well as in the Guaranteed Account's prospectus.
The availability  of  the  Funds  and  the  Guaranteed  Account  is  subject  to
applicable  regulatory authorization;  not all options  may be  available in all
jurisdictions or under all Contracts. (See "Investment Options.")

This Prospectus  provides  investors with  the  information about  the  Separate
Account  that they  should know  before investing  in the  Contracts. Additional
information about the Separate Account is contained in a Statement of Additional
Information ("SAI") which is available at no charge. The SAI has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and is incorporated herein by  reference.
The  Table of Contents for the SAI is  printed on page 24 of this Prospectus. An
SAI may be obtained by indicating the request on your application or  enrollment
form  or  by calling  the number  listed  under the  "Inquiries" section  of the
Prospectus Summary.

THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID  ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY  THE CURRENT PROSPECTUSES  OF
THE  FUNDS AND THE ALIAC GUARANTEED ACCOUNT. ALL PROSPECTUSES SHOULD BE READ AND
RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

  THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ARE DATED MAY 1,
                                     1996.
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
DEFINITIONS..........................................................................     DEFINITIONS - 1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY...................................................................         SUMMARY - 1
FEE TABLE............................................................................       FEE TABLE - 1
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION......................................................     AUV HISTORY - 1
THE COMPANY..........................................................................                   1
VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B...........................................................                   1
INVESTMENT OPTIONS...................................................................                   1
    The Funds........................................................................                   1
    Credited Interest Option.........................................................                   5
PURCHASE.............................................................................                   5
    Contract Availability............................................................                   5
    Purchasing Interests in the Contract.............................................                   5
    Purchase Payments................................................................                   6
    Contract Rights..................................................................                   6
    Designations of Beneficiary and Annuitant........................................                   6
    Right to Cancel..................................................................                   7
CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS...............................................................                   7
    Daily Deductions from the Separate Account.......................................                   7
          Mortality and Expense Risk Charge..........................................                   7
          Administrative Charge......................................................                   7
    Maintenance Fee..................................................................                   7
    Reduction or Elimination of Administrative Charge and Maintenance Fee............                   8
    Deferred Sales Charge............................................................                   8
    Reduction or Elimination of the Deferred Sales Charge............................                   9
    Fund Expenses....................................................................                   9
    Premium and Other Taxes..........................................................                   9
CONTRACT VALUATION...................................................................                   9
    Account Value....................................................................                   9
    Accumulation Units...............................................................                  10
    Net Investment Factor............................................................                  10
TRANSFERS............................................................................                  10
    Dollar Cost Averaging Program....................................................                  10
    Account Rebalancing Program......................................................                  11
WITHDRAWALS..........................................................................                  11
ADDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL OPTIONS........................................................                  11
DEATH BENEFIT DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD.............................................                  12
    Death Benefit Amount.............................................................                  12
    Death Benefit Payment Options....................................................                  13
    Nonqualified Contracts...........................................................                  13
    Qualified Contracts..............................................................                  13
ANNUITY PERIOD.......................................................................                  14
    Annuity Period Elections.........................................................                  14
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                    <C>
    Partial Annuitization............................................................                  14
    Annuity Options..................................................................                  14
    Annuity Payments.................................................................                  15
    Charges Deducted During the Annuity Period.......................................                  15
    Death Benefit Payable During the Annuity Period..................................                  15
TAX STATUS...........................................................................                  16
    Introduction.....................................................................                  16
    Taxation of the Company..........................................................                  16
    Tax Status of the Contract.......................................................                  16
    Taxation of Annuity Contracts....................................................                  18
    Contracts Used with Certain Retirement Plans.....................................                  20
MISCELLANEOUS........................................................................                  21
    Distribution.....................................................................                  21
    Delay or Suspension of Payments..................................................                  22
    Performance Reporting............................................................                  22
    Voting Rights....................................................................                  23
    Modification of the Contract.....................................................                  23
    Transfers of Ownership; Assignment...............................................                  23
    Involuntary Terminations.........................................................                  23
    Legal Matters and Proceedings....................................................                  24
CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION..................................                  24
APPENDIX--ALIAC GUARANTEED ACCOUNT...................................................                  25
</TABLE>

THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES  NOT CONSTITUTE AN  OFFERING IN ANY  JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING  MAY NOT  LAWFULLY BE  MADE. THE  COMPANY DOES  NOT AUTHORIZE  ANY
PERSON TO GIVE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFERING CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE CONTAINED HEREIN.
<PAGE>
                                  DEFINITIONS
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following terms are defined as they are used in this Prospectus:

ACCOUNT:   A  record  that  identifies   contract  values  accumulated  on  each
Certificate Holder's behalf during the Accumulation Period.

ACCOUNT VALUE: The total dollar value of  amounts held in an Account as of  each
Valuation Date during the Accumulation Period.

ACCOUNT  YEAR: A  period of  twelve months  measured from  the date  on which an
Account is  established (the  effective date)  or from  an anniversary  of  such
effective date.

ACCUMULATION  PERIOD: The period during which Purchase Payment(s) credited to an
Account are invested to fund future annuity payments.

ACCUMULATION UNIT: A  measure of  the value  of each  Subaccount before  annuity
payments begin.

ADJUSTED  ACCOUNT VALUE: The  Account Value, plus or  minus the aggregate market
value adjustment for amounts allocated to the Guaranteed Account.

ANNUITANT: The person on whose life or life expectancy the annuity payments  are
based.

ANNUITY:  A series of payments  for life, a definite  period or a combination of
the two.

ANNUITY DATE: The date on which annuity payments begin.

ANNUITY PERIOD: The period during which annuity payments are made.

ANNUITY UNIT: A  measure of  the value of  each Subaccount  selected during  the
Annuity Period.

BENEFICIARY(IES):  The person or  persons who are entitled  to receive any death
benefit proceeds. Under Nonqualified Contracts, Individual Retirement Annuities,
and Section 403(b) Contracts, Beneficiary refers to the beneficiary named  under
the  Contract. Under Qualified Contracts sold  in conjunction with 401(a) or 457
Plans, Beneficiary refers to the beneficiary under the plan.

CERTIFICATE: The  document  issued  to  a  Certificate  Holder  for  an  Account
established under a group contract.

CERTIFICATE  HOLDER  (YOU):  A  person or  entity  who  purchases  an individual
Contract or  acquires  an interest  under  a group  Contract.  For  Nonqualified
Contracts, we reserve the right to limit ownership to natural persons.

COMPANY (WE, US): Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company.

CONTRACT:  The group and individual deferred, variable annuity contracts offered
by this Prospectus.

DISTRIBUTOR(S): The registered broker-dealer(s) which have entered into  selling
agreements  with the Company  to offer and  sell the Contracts.  The Company may
also serve as a Distributor.

FUND(S): An open-end registered management  investment company whose shares  are
purchased by the Separate Account to fund the benefits provided by the Contract.

GROUP CONTRACT HOLDER: The entity to which a group Contract is issued.

HOME OFFICE: The Company's principal executive offices located at 151 Farmington
Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06156.

INDIVIDUAL  CONTRACT HOLDER: A person or  entity who has purchased an individual
variable annuity  contract (also  referred to  as a  "Certificate Holder").  For
Nonqualified  Contracts,  we reserve  the right  to  limit ownership  to natural
persons.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                DEFINITIONS - 1
<PAGE>
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY: An individual or group variable deferred  annuity
intended to qualify under Code Section 408(b).

NONQUALIFIED  CONTRACT:  A contract  established  to supplement  an individual's
retirement income,  or to  provide  an alternative  investment option  under  an
Individual Retirement Account qualified under Code Section 408(a).

PURCHASE PAYMENT(S): The gross payment(s) made to the Company under an Account.

QUALIFIED  CONTRACTS: Contracts available for use with plans entitled to special
federal income tax treatment under Code Sections 401(a), 403(b), 408(b) or 457.

SEPARATE ACCOUNT: Variable Annuity Account B, a separate account established for
the purpose of funding variable annuity contracts issued by the Company.

SUBACCOUNT(S): The  portion  of the  assets  of  the Separate  Account  that  is
allocated  to a particular Fund.  Each Subaccount invests in  the shares of only
one corresponding Fund.

SURRENDER VALUE: The amount payable upon the withdrawal of all or any portion of
an Account Value.

VALUATION DATE:  The date  and time  at which  the value  of the  Subaccount  is
calculated.  Currently, this calculation occurs at  the close of business of the
New York Stock Exchange on any normal business day, Monday through Friday,  that
the New York Stock Exchange is open.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                DEFINITIONS - 2
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTRACTS OFFERED

    The Contracts described in this Prospectus are group and individual deferred
variable  annuity contracts issued  by Aetna Life  Insurance and Annuity Company
(the "Company"). The  purpose of  the Contract is  to accumulate  values and  to
provide  benefits upon retirement. The Contracts are currently available for (1)
individual nonqualified purchases; (2) Individual Retirement Annuities; and  (3)
subject  to  state  regulatory  approval,  purchases  made  in  conjunction with
employer sponsored retirement plans under Sections 401(a), 403(b) or 457 of  the
Code.  (Contracts of the  type identified in  item (3) are  not available in the
state of New York. Additionally,  Individual Retirement Annuities issued in  the
state of New York may only be issued as IRA Rollovers.)

    In   most  states,  group   Contracts  are  generally   offered  to  certain
broker-dealers which  have  agreed to  act  as Distributors  of  the  Contracts.
Individuals who have established accounts with those broker-dealers are eligible
to  participate in the Contract. Individual  Contracts are offered only in those
states where the group Contracts are not authorized for sale. Joint  Certificate
Holders  are allowed only on Nonqualified  Contracts. A joint Certificate Holder
must be  the spouse  of the  other joint  Certificate Holder.  In New  York  and
Pennsylvania,  the  joint  Certificate  Holders  do  not  need  to  be  spouses.
References to  "Certificate  Holders"  in  this  Prospectus  mean  both  of  the
Certificate Holders on joint Accounts.

CONTRACT PURCHASE

    You may purchase an interest in the Contract by completing an application or
enrollment  form  and submitting  it to  the Company.  Purchase Payments  can be
applied to the  Contract either through  a lump-sum payment  or through  ongoing
contributions. (See "Purchase.")

FREE LOOK PERIOD

    You  may cancel the Contract or Certificate within 10 days after you receive
it (or longer if  required by state  law) by returning it  to the Company  along
with  a written notice of cancellation. Unless state law requires otherwise, the
amount  you  will  receive  upon   cancellation  will  reflect  the   investment
performance of the Subaccounts into which your Purchase Payments were deposited.
In  some  cases this  may  be more  or  less than  the  amount of  your Purchase
Payments. Under a Contract issued as an Individual Retirement Annuity, you  will
receive a refund of your Purchase Payment. (See "Purchase--Right to Cancel.")

INVESTMENT OPTIONS

    The  Company has established  Variable Annuity Account  B, a registered unit
investment trust,  for  the purpose  of  funding  the variable  portion  of  the
Contracts.  The  Separate  Account  is  divided  into  Subaccounts  which invest
directly in shares of the Funds described herein. The Contract allows investment
in any or all of the Subaccounts, as well as in the Guaranteed Account described
below. For a complete  list of the  Funds available under  the Contracts, and  a
description  of  the  investment  objectives  of each  of  the  Funds  and their
investment advisers, see "Investment Options--The Funds" in this Prospectus,  as
well as the prospectuses for each of the Funds.

    The  Guaranteed Account is the credited  interest option available under the
Contract which allows  you to earn  a fixed rate  of interest, if  held for  the
guaranteed term. (See the Appendix to this Prospectus.)

CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS

    Certain  charges are associated with  these Contracts. These charges include
daily deductions  from the  Separate  Account (the  mortality and  expense  risk
charge  and an  administrative charge), as  well as any  annual maintenance fee,
transfer fees and premium and other taxes. The Funds also incur certain fees and
expenses which are deducted directly from the Funds. A deferred sales charge may
apply upon a full or partial withdrawal of the Account Value. (See the Fee Table
and "Charges and Deductions.")

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  SUMMARY - 1
<PAGE>
TRANSFERS

    Prior to  the Annuity  Date,  and subject  to certain  limitations,  Account
Values  may be  transferred among  the Subaccounts  and the  Guaranteed Account.
Currently transfers are without charge. However, the Company reserves the  right
to  charge up  to $10 if  more than  12 transfers are  made in  a calendar year.
Transfers can be  requested in writing  or by telephone  in accordance with  the
Company's  transfer procedures.  (Transfers from  the Guaranteed  Account may be
restricted and subject to a market value adjustment. See the Appendix.)

    The Company  also offers  a Dollar  Cost Averaging  Program and  an  Account
Rebalancing  Program. The  Dollar Cost  Averaging Program  permits the automatic
transfer of amounts  from any  of the  Subaccounts and  the one-year  Guaranteed
Account  term to any of  the other Subaccounts on  a monthly or quarterly basis.
The Account Rebalancing Program allows  Certificate Holders to have portions  of
their   Account  Value   automatically  reallocated  annually   to  a  specified
percentage. (See "Transfers.")

WITHDRAWALS

    All or a part  of the Account  Value may be withdrawn  prior to the  Annuity
Date  by properly completing a disbursement form  and sending it to the Company.
Certain charges  may be  assessed upon  withdrawal. Amounts  withdrawn from  the
Guaranteed  Account  may  be subject  to  a  market value  adjustment.  (See the
Appendix.) The taxable portion of the  withdrawal may also be subject to  income
tax and a federal tax penalty. (See "Withdrawals.")

    The  Contract also offers  certain Additional Withdrawal  Options during the
Accumulation Period to persons  meeting certain criteria. Additional  Withdrawal
Options  are  not available  in  all states  and may  not  be suitable  in every
situation. (See "Additional Withdrawal Options.")

GUARANTEED DEATH BENEFIT

    These Contracts contain a guaranteed  death benefit feature. Upon the  death
of   the  Annuitant,   the  Account  Value   may  be   increased  under  certain
circumstances. (See "Death Benefit During Accumulation Period.")

    After Annuity Payments have commenced, a death benefit may be payable to the
Beneficiary depending upon  the terms  of the  Contract and  the Annuity  Option
selected. (See "Death Benefit Payable During the Annuity Period.")

THE ANNUITY PERIOD

    On  the Annuity  Date, you  may elect  to begin  receiving Annuity Payments.
Annuity Payments can be  made on either a  fixed, variable or combination  fixed
and variable basis. If a variable payout is selected, the payments will continue
to  vary  with the  investment performance  of  the Subaccount(s)  selected. The
Company reserves  the right  to limit  the  number of  Subaccounts that  may  be
available during the Annuity Period. (See "Annuity Period.")

TAXES

    Earnings are not generally taxed until you or your Beneficiary(ies) actually
receive  a distribution  from the  Contract. A  10% federal  tax penalty  may be
imposed on certain withdrawals. (See "Tax Status.")

INQUIRIES

    Questions, inquiries or requests for additional information can be  directed
to  your  agent or  local  representative, or  you  may contact  the  Company as
follows:

<TABLE>
 <S>                                            <C>
 -  Write to:                                   Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
                                                151 Farmington Avenue
                                                Hartford, Connecticut 06156-5996
                                                Attention: Customer Service

 -  Call Customer Service:                      1-800-531-4547 (for automated transfers or changes
                                                in the allocation of
                                                Account Values, call: 1-800-262-3862)
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  SUMMARY - 2
<PAGE>
                                   FEE TABLE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This Fee Table describes  the various charges and  expenses associated with  the
Contract.  No sales charge is paid upon purchase of the Contract. All costs that
are borne  directly or  indirectly under  the Subaccounts  and Funds  are  shown
below.  Some expenses may vary as  explained under "Charges and Deductions." The
charges and  expenses shown  below do  not  include premium  taxes that  may  be
applicable.  For more  information regarding  expenses paid  out of  assets of a
particular Fund, see the Fund's prospectus.

DIRECT CHARGES. These charges are deducted directly from the Account Value. They
include:

     DEFERRED  SALES  CHARGE.  The  deferred  sales  charge  is  deducted  as  a
     percentage  of each Purchase Payment withdrawn.  The amount of the deferred
     sales charge is calculated as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          DEFERRED
                                            SALES
YEARS FROM RECEIPT OF                      CHARGE
PURCHASE PAYMENT                          DEDUCTION
- ----------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                       <C>
Less than 2                                    7%
2 or more but less than 4                      6%
4 or more but less than 5                      5%
5 or more but less than 6                      4%
6 or more but less than 7                      3%
7 or more                                      0%

<CAPTION>

         CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED
                   IN NEW YORK:
                                          DEFERRED
                                            SALES
YEARS FROM RECEIPT OF                      CHARGE
PURCHASE PAYMENT                          DEDUCTION
- ----------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                       <C>
Less than 1                                    7%
1 or more but less than 2                      6%
2 or more but less than 3                      5%
3 or more but less than 4                      4%
4 or more but less than 5                      3%
5 or more but less than 6                      2%
6 or more but less than 7                      1%
7 or more                                      0%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                         <C>
ANNUAL MAINTENANCE FEE....................................................................  $   30.00
The maintenance fee will generally be deducted annually from each Account. The maintenance
fee is waived when the Account Value is $50,000 or more on the date the maintenance fee is
due. The amount shown is the MAXIMUM maintenance fee that can be deducted under the
Contract.
TRANSFER CHARGE...........................................................................  $    0.00
We currently allow an unlimited number of transfers without charge. However, we reserve
the right to impose a fee of $10 for each transfer in excess of 12 per year.
</TABLE>

INDIRECT CHARGES. Each  Subaccount pays these  expenses out of  its assets.  The
charges  are reflected in the Subaccount's daily Accumulation Unit Value and are
not charged directly to an Account. They include:

DURING THE ACCUMULATION PERIOD:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                         <C>
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE.........................................................      1.25%
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE.....................................................................      0.15%
                                                                                            ---------
TOTAL SUBACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES..........................................................      1.40%
</TABLE>

DURING THE ANNUITY PERIOD:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                         <C>
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE.........................................................      1.25%
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE.....................................................................      0.00%
                                                                                            ---------
We currently do not impose an Administrative Charge during the Annuity Period. However, we
reserve the right to deduct a daily charge of not more than 0.25% per year from the
Subaccounts.
TOTAL SUBACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES..........................................................      1.25%
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FEE TABLE - 1
<PAGE>
ANNUAL EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS

The following table illustrates the advisory fees and other expenses  applicable
to the Funds. Except as noted, the following figures are a percentage of average
net  assets and, except where otherwise indicated,  are based on figures for the
year ended December 31, 1995. A Fund's "Other Expenses" include operating  costs
of  the Fund. These expenses are reflected in the Fund's net asset value and are
not deducted from the Account Value.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           INVESTMENT
                                            ADVISORY                                           TOTAL
                                            FEES(1)       OTHER EXPENSES                      ANNUAL
                                         (AFTER EXPENSE   (AFTER EXPENSE      INTEREST         FUND
                                         REIMBURSEMENT)   REIMBURSEMENT)      EXPENSE        EXPENSES
                                         --------------   --------------   --------------   -----------
 <S>                                     <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
 Aetna Variable Fund
 Aetna Income Shares
 Aetna Variable Encore Fund
 Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.
 Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio(2)
 Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio(2)
 Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio(2)
 Alger American Balanced Portfolio
 Alger American Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Income and Growth
  Portfolio
 Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Leveraged AllCap
  Portfolio(2)
 Alger American Small Cap Portfolio
 Federated American Leaders Fund II(3)
 Federated Fund for U.S. Government
  Securities II(3)
 Federated Growth Strategies Fund II(3)
 Federated High Income Bond Fund II(3)
 Federated International Equity Fund
  II(3)
 Federated Prime Money Fund II(3)
 Federated Utility Fund II(3)
 Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio(4)
 Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager
  Portfolio(4)
 Fidelity VIP II Contrafund
  Portfolio(4)
 Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio(5)
 Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond
  Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth
  Portfolio(6)
 Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio(6)
 Janus Aspen Flexible Income
  Portfolio(6)
 Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio(6)
 Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond
  Portfolio(6)
 Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth
  Portfolio(6)
 Lexington Emerging Markets Fund(7)
 Lexington Natural Resources Trust
 TCI Balanced(8)
 TCI Growth(8)
 TCI International(8)
</TABLE>

- --------------------------
(1) Certain  of  the  unaffiliated  Fund  advisers  reimburse  the  Company  for
    administrative  costs incurred in connection with administering the Funds as
    variable funding options under the  Contract. These reimbursements are  paid
    out of the investment advisory fees and are not charged to investors.
(2) These  Funds have only limited operating history; therefore the expenses are
    estimated for the current fiscal year.
(3) The Fund's Adviser has agreed to waive all or a portion of its advisory  fee
    and  reimburse certain  expenses so that  the total annual  expenses for the
    Federated American Leaders Fund II and  the Federated Utility Fund II  would
    not exceed    % of average net assets, and the total annual expenses for the
    Federated  Fund for  U.S. Government  Securities II  and the  Federated High
    Income Bond Fund II  would not exceed     % of  average net assets.  Without
    this    waiver    and    reimbursement,    the    maximum    advisory   fees

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FEE TABLE - 2
<PAGE>
    and the maximum  total annual  expenses for the  Funds, respectively,  would
    have been    % and    % for the Federated American Leaders Fund II,    % and
       % for the Federated Utility Fund II,    % and    % for the Federated Fund
    for  U.S. Government Securities II, and    % and    % for the Federated High
    Income Bond Fund  II. The  Adviser can  terminate this  voluntary waiver  or
    reimbursement of expenses at any time at its sole discretion.
(4) A  portion of the brokerage commissions the Fund paid was used to reduce its
    expenses. Without this reduction, total  operating expenses would have  been
        % for the  High-Income Portfolio,     % for the Contrafund Portfolio and
       % for the Asset Manager Portfolio.
(5) The Fund's  expenses  were  voluntarily reduced  by  the  Fund's  investment
    adviser. Absent this reimbursement, investment advisory fees, other expenses
    and total expenses would have been    %,    % and    %, respectively.
(6) The  expense figures  shown are  net of  certain expense  waivers from Janus
    Capital Corporation. Without such  waivers, Investment Advisory Fees,  Other
    Expenses  and Total Mutual  Fund Annual Expenses for  the Portfolios for the
    fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 would  have been:    %,     % and     %,
    respectively,  for Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio;     %,    %, and
       %, respectively, for Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio;    %,    % and    %,
    respectively, for Janus  Aspen Flexible Income  Portfolio;     %,     %  and
        %, respectively, for Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio;     %,    % and    %,
    respectively, for Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio; and    %,    %  and
       %, respectively, for Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio.
(7) The  Fund's investment adviser has agreed to  reimburse the Fund so that the
    total expenses of  the Fund (excluding  taxes, brokerage, and  extraordinary
    expenses)  will not exceed an annual rate of     % of the Fund's average net
    assets. Without this agreement, it  is estimated that the Fund's  Investment
    Advisory Fee, Total Other Expenses and Total Fund Annual Expenses would have
    been    %,    % and    %, respectively.
(8) The Portfolio's investment adviser pays all expenses of the Portfolio except
    brokerage   commissions,  taxes,   interest,  fees   and  expenses   of  the
    non-interested  directors   (including  counsel   fees)  and   extraordinary
    expenses.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FEE TABLE - 3
<PAGE>
HYPOTHETICAL ILLUSTRATION (EXAMPLE)

THIS   EXAMPLE  IS   PURELY  HYPOTHETICAL.  IT   SHOULD  NOT   BE  CONSIDERED  A
REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR  FUTURE EXPENSES OR  EXPECTED RETURN. ACTUAL  EXPENSES
AND/OR RETURN MAY BE MORE OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN BELOW.

The  following  Examples  illustrate  the expenses  that  would  have  been paid
assuming a $1,000 investment in the Contract and a 5% return on assets. For  the
purposes  of these Examples, the  maximum maintenance fee of  $30.00 that can be
deducted under the Contract has been  converted to a percentage of assets  equal
to    %.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         EXAMPLE A                               EXAMPLE B
                                           -------------------------------------   -------------------------------------
                                           IF  YOU  WITHDRAW THE  ENTIRE ACCOUNT   IF YOU  DO NOT  WITHDRAW THE  ACCOUNT
                                           VALUE  AT  THE  END  OF  THE  PERIODS   VALUE, OR IF YOU ANNUITIZE AT THE END
                                           SHOWN, YOU  WOULD PAY  THE  FOLLOWING   OF  THE PERIODS SHOWN,  YOU WOULD PAY
                                           EXPENSES,  INCLUDING  ANY  APPLICABLE   THE  FOLLOWING EXPENSES  (NO DEFERRED
                                           DEFERRED SALES CHARGE:                  SALES CHARGE IS REFLECTED):*
                                           1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS   1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                           ------   -------   -------   --------   ------   -------   -------   --------
 <S>                                       <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
 Aetna Variable Fund
 Aetna Income Shares
 Aetna Variable Encore Fund
 Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.
 Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio
 Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio
 Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio
 Alger American Balanced Portfolio
 Alger American Income and Growth
  Portfolio
 Alger American Leveraged AllCap
  Portfolio
 Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Small Cap Portfolio
 Federated American Leaders Fund II
 Federated Fund for U.S. Government
  Securities II
 Federated Growth Strategies Fund II
 Federated High Income Bond Fund II
 Federated International Equity Fund II
 Federated Prime Money Fund II
 Federated Utility Fund II
 Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond
  Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Flexible Income Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio
 Lexington Emerging Markets Fund
 Lexington Natural Resources Trust
 TCI Balanced
 TCI Growth
 TCI International
</TABLE>

- --------------------------
* This Example  would not  apply if  a nonlifetime  variable annuity  option  is
  selected,  and a  lump sum  settlement is  requested within  three years after
  annuity payments  start  since the  lump  sum payment  will  be treated  as  a
  withdrawal  during the Accumulation Period and will be subject to any deferred
  sales charge that would then apply. (Refer to Example A.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FEE TABLE - 4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN NEW YORK
                                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         EXAMPLE C                               EXAMPLE D
                                           -------------------------------------   -------------------------------------

                                           IF YOU  WITHDRAW THE  ENTIRE  ACCOUNT   IF  YOU DO  NOT WITHDRAW  THE ACCOUNT
                                           VALUE  AT  THE  END  OF  THE  PERIODS   VALUE, OR IF YOU ANNUITIZE AT THE END
                                           SHOWN,  YOU  WOULD PAY  THE FOLLOWING   OF THE PERIODS  SHOWN, YOU WOULD  PAY
                                           EXPENSES,  INCLUDING  ANY  APPLICABLE   THE FOLLOWING  EXPENSES (NO  DEFERRED
                                           DEFERRED SALES CHARGE:                  SALES CHARGE IS REFLECTED):*
                                           1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS   1 YEAR   3 YEARS   5 YEARS   10 YEARS
                                           ------   -------   -------   --------   ------   -------   -------   --------
 <S>                                       <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>
 Aetna Variable Fund
 Aetna Income Shares
 Aetna Variable Encore Fund
 Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.
 Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio
 Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio
 Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio
 Alger American Balanced Portfolio
 Alger American Income and Growth
  Portfolio
 Alger American Leveraged AllCap
  Portfolio
 Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Growth Portfolio
 Alger American Small Cap Portfolio
 Federated American Leaders Fund II
 Federated Fund for U.S. Government
  Securities II
 Federated Growth Strategies Fund II
 Federated High Income Bond Fund II
 Federated International Equity Fund II
 Federated Prime Money Fund II
 Federated Utility Fund II
 Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio
 Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond
  Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Flexible Income Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio
 Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio
 Lexington Emerging Markets Fund
 Lexington Natural Resources Trust
 TCI Balanced
 TCI Growth
 TCI International
</TABLE>

- --------------------------
* This  Example  would not  apply if  a nonlifetime  variable annuity  option is
  selected, and a  lump sum  settlement is  requested within  three years  after
  annuity  payments  start since  the  lump sum  payment  will be  treated  as a
  withdrawal during the Accumulation Period and will be subject to any  deferred
  sales charge that would then apply. (Refer to Example C.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 FEE TABLE - 5
<PAGE>
                        CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   (SELECTED DATA FOR ACCUMULATION UNITS OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT EACH PERIOD)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE  CONDENSED FINANCIAL  INFORMATION PRESENTED  BELOW FOR  THE TWO  YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,  1995 IS  DERIVED FROM  THE FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS OF  THE  SEPARATE
ACCOUNT,  WHICH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN AUDITED BY KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP,
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS. THE  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  AS OF  AND FOR  THE YEAR  ENDED
DECEMBER  31, 1995 AND THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT THEREON, ARE INCLUDED IN
THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1995           1994
                                                       ------------   ------------
 <S>                                                   <C>            <C>
 AETNA VARIABLE FUND
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.737
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  7.37%(5)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                               3,178,712
 AETNA INCOME SHARES
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.324
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  3.24%(3)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                 983,357
 AETNA VARIABLE ENCORE FUND
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.489
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  4.89%(5)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                               3,407,448
 AETNA INVESTMENT ADVISERS FUND, INC.
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.828
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  8.28%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                 911,281
 FEDERATED AMERICAN LEADERS FUND II
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.838
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (1.62)%(4)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                 188,708
 FEDERATED FUND FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES II
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.073
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  0.73%(4)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                  12,714
 FEDERATED HIGH INCOME BOND FUND II
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.814
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (1.86)%(4)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                  31,309
 FEDERATED UTILITY FUND II
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.881
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (1.19)%(4)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                  41,191
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                AUV HISTORY - 1
<PAGE>
                  CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1995           1994
                                                       ------------   ------------
 <S>                                                   <C>            <C>
 FIDELITY EQUITY-INCOME PORTFOLIO
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.002
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  0.02%(6)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                  17,013
 FIDELITY GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.423
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  4.23%(6)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                  17,013
 JANUS ASPEN GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.109
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  1.09%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                   9,588
 LEXINGTON EMERGING MARKETS FUND
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.795
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (2.05)%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                   1,500
 LEXINGTON NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.056
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (9.44)%(3)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                     537
 TCI GROWTH
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.847
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  8.47%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                 893,534
 TCI BALANCED
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $10.152
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                  1.52%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                   3,477
 TCI INTERNATIONAL
 Value at beginning of period                                            $10.000
 Value at end of period                                                  $ 9.441
 Increase (decrease) in value of accumulation
  units(1)                                                                 (5.59)%(2)
 Number of accumulation units outstanding at end of
  period                                                                   3,745
</TABLE>

(1) The above figures are calculated  by subtracting the beginning  Accumulation
    Unit  value from the ending Accumulation  Unit value during a calendar year,
    and dividing  the result  by the  beginning Accumulation  Unit value.  These
    figures  do not reflect the deferred sales charge or the fixed dollar annual
    maintenance fee,  if  any.  Inclusion  of these  charges  would  reduce  the
    investment results shown.
(2) Reflects  less than  a full year  of performance activity.  Funds were first
    received in this option during July 1994.
(3) Reflects less than  a full year  of performance activity.  Funds were  first
    received in this option during August 1994.
(4) Reflects  less than  a full year  of performance activity.  Funds were first
    received in this option during September 1994.
(5) Reflects less than  a full year  of performance activity.  Funds were  first
    received in this option during October 1994.
(6) Reflects  less than  a full year  of performance activity.  Funds were first
    received in this option during December 1994.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                AUV HISTORY - 2
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Aetna Life Insurance and  Annuity Company (the "Company")  is the issuer  of
the  Contract, and as  such, it is  responsible for providing  the insurance and
annuity benefits  under the  Contract. The  Company is  a stock  life  insurance
company  organized under the insurance laws of the State of Connecticut in 1976.
Through a merger, it  succeeded to the business  of Aetna Variable Annuity  Life
Insurance  Company (formerly  Participating Annuity  Life Insurance  Company, an
Arkansas life insurance company  organized in 1954). The  Company is engaged  in
the  business of issuing life insurance  policies and variable annuity contracts
in all states of  the United States. The  Company's principal executive  offices
are located at 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06156.

    The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Retirement Services, Inc.,
which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Life and Casualty Company, a
diversified financial services company.

                           VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The  Company established Variable Annuity Account B (the "Separate Account")
in 1976 as a segregated  asset account for the  purpose of funding its  variable
annuity contracts. The Separate Account is registered as a unit investment trust
under  the  Investment Company  Act  of 1940  (the  "1940 Act"),  and  meets the
definition of "separate  account" under  federal securities  laws. The  Separate
Account  is divided into  "subaccounts" which do not  invest directly in stocks,
bonds or other investments. Instead, each Subaccount buys and sells shares of  a
corresponding Fund.

    Although the Company holds title to the assets of the Separate Account, such
assets  are not chargeable  with liabilities of any  other business conducted by
the Company. Income, gains or losses of the Separate Account are credited to  or
charged  against  the assets  of the  Separate Account  without regard  to other
income, gains  or losses  of  the Company.  All  obligations arising  under  the
Contracts are general corporate obligations of the Company.

                               INVESTMENT OPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FUNDS

    Purchase  Payments may  be allocated  to one or  more of  the Subaccounts as
designated on  the application  or  enrollment form.  In turn,  the  Subaccounts
invest in the corresponding Funds at net asset value.

    The  availability of  Funds may be  subject to  regulatory authorization. In
addition, the Company may add or withdraw Funds, as permitted by applicable law.
Not all Funds may be available in all jurisdictions or under all Contracts.

    Subject to state regulatory  approval, if the shares  of any Fund should  no
longer be available for investment by the Separate Account or if in the judgment
of the Company, further investment in such shares should become inappropriate in
view  of the  purpose of  the Contract, we  may cease  to make  such Fund shares
available for  investment under  the Contract  prospectively. The  Company  may,
alternatively,  substitute shares of  another Fund for  shares already acquired.
The Company reserves the right to  substitute shares of another Fund for  shares
already acquired without a proxy vote. Any elimination, substitution or addition
of Funds will be done in accordance with applicable state and federal securities
laws.

    The  investment results  of the Funds  described below are  likely to differ
significantly and there is no assurance that any of the Funds will achieve their
respective investment objectives. Except where otherwise noted, all of the Funds
are diversified, as defined in the 1940 Act.

- -AETNA VARIABLE FUND  seeks to maximize  total return through  investments in  a
 diversified  portfolio of common stocks  and securities convertible into common
 stock.(1)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1
<PAGE>
- -AETNA INCOME SHARES seeks to maximize total return, consistent with  reasonable
 risk,  through investments in  a diversified portfolio  consisting primarily of
 debt securities.(1)

- -AETNA VARIABLE ENCORE  FUND seeks  to provide high  current return,  consistent
 with  preservation of capital and liquidity, through investment in high-quality
 money market instruments.  An investment  in the  Fund is  neither insured  nor
 guaranteed by the U.S. Government.(1)

- -AETNA  INVESTMENT ADVISERS FUND, INC. is a managed fund which seeks to maximize
 investment return consistent with reasonable  safety of principal by  investing
 in  one  or  more  of  the following  asset  classes:  stocks,  bonds  and cash
 equivalents based on the  Company's judgment of which  of those sectors or  mix
 thereof offers the best investment prospects.(1)

- -AETNA  GENERATION PORTFOLIOS,  INC.--AETNA ASCENT  VARIABLE PORTFOLIO  seeks to
 provide capital appreciation by allocating  its investments among equities  and
 fixed  income securities. The Portfolio is  managed for investors who generally
 have an investment horizon  exceeding 15 years,  and who have  a high level  of
 risk tolerance.(1)

- -AETNA GENERATION PORTFOLIOS, INC.--AETNA CROSSROADS VARIABLE PORTFOLIO seeks to
 provide  total return (i.e., income and capital appreciation, both realized and
 unrealized) by  allocating  its investments  among  equities and  fixed  income
 securities.  The  Portfolio  is managed  for  investors who  generally  have an
 investment horizon exceeding  10 years and  who have a  moderate level of  risk
 tolerance.(1)

- -AETNA  GENERATION PORTFOLIOS,  INC.--AETNA LEGACY  VARIABLE PORTFOLIO  seeks to
 provide total return consistent with preservation of capital by allocating  its
 investments  among  equities  and  fixed income  securities.  The  Portfolio is
 managed for investors who generally  have an investment horizon exceeding  five
 years and who have a low level of risk tolerance.(1)

- -ALGER AMERICAN FUND--ALGER AMERICAN BALANCED PORTFOLIO seeks current income and
 long-term  capital appreciation by investing in  common stocks and fixed income
 securities, with emphasis on income-producing  securities which appear to  have
 some potential for capital appreciation.(2)

- -ALGER  AMERICAN FUND--ALGER  AMERICAN GROWTH PORTFOLIO  seeks long-term capital
 appreciation by  investing  in a  diversified,  actively managed  portfolio  of
 equity  securities. The Portfolio primarily  invests in equity securities which
 have a market capitalization of $1 billion or greater.(2)

- -ALGER AMERICAN FUND--ALGER AMERICAN  INCOME AND GROWTH  PORTFOLIO seeks a  high
 level  of  dividend income  to the  extent  consistent with  prudent investment
 management by investing primarily in dividend paying equity securities. Capital
 appreciation is a secondary objective of the Portfolio.(2)

- -ALGER AMERICAN FUND--ALGER AMERICAN LEVERAGED ALLCAP PORTFOLIO seeks  long-term
 capital  appreciation by investing in a diversified, actively managed portfolio
 of equity securities. Income is a consideration in the selection of investments
 but is not an investment objective  of the Portfolio. The Portfolio may  engage
 in  leveraging  (up  to  33  1/3%)  of  its  assets  and  options  and  futures
 transactions, which  are deemed  to  be speculative  and  which may  cause  the
 Portfolio's net asset value to fluctuate.(2)

- -ALGER  AMERICAN FUND--ALGER  AMERICAN MIDCAP  GROWTH PORTFOLIO  seeks long-term
 capital appreciation by investing in a diversified, actively managed  portfolio
 of  equity securities, primarily of  companies with total market capitalization
 between $750  million  and $3.5  billion.  Income  is a  consideration  in  the
 selection of investments but is not an investment objective.(2)

- -ALGER  AMERICAN  FUND--ALGER  AMERICAN  SMALL  CAPITALIZATION  PORTFOLIO  seeks
 capital return through investment in common stock of smaller companies offering
 the potential for significant price gain. The Portfolio invests at least 65% of
 its net  assets  in equity  securities  of  companies that  have  total  market
 capitalization of less than $1 billion at the time of purchase.(2)

- -FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES--FEDERATED AMERICAN LEADERS FUND II seeks to achieve
 long-term  growth  of  capital and  to  provide  income. The  Fund  pursues its
 investment objective by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65%  of
 its  total  assets  in  common  stock  of  "blue-chip"  companies.  "Blue-chip"
 companies generally are top-quality, established growth companies which, in the
 opinion of the Adviser meet certain criteria.(3)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       2
<PAGE>
- -FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES--FEDERATED  FUND FOR U.S.  GOVERNMENT SECURITIES  II
 seeks  to provide current income. The  Fund pursues its investment objective by
 investing at least 65% of the value of its total assets in securities issued or
 guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the U.S. government,  its
 agencies or instrumentalities.(3)

- -FEDERATED  INSURANCE SERIES--FEDERATED GROWTH STRATEGIES  FUND II seeks capital
 appreciation. The Fund pursues its objective  by investing at least 65% of  its
 assets  in  equity securities  of  companies with  prospects  for above-average
 growth in earnings  and dividends  or companies  where significant  fundamental
 changes  are taking place.  Equity securities include  common stocks, preferred
 stocks, and securities  (including debt securities)  that are convertible  into
 common stocks.(3)

- -FEDERATED  INSURANCE  SERIES--FEDERATED HIGH  INCOME  BOND FUND  II  seeks high
 current  income  by   investing  primarily  in   a  diversified  portfolio   of
 professionally  managed fixed income securities. The fixed-income securities in
 which the Fund  intends to  invest are lower-rated  corporate debt  obligations
 (commonly  known as "junk bonds" or "high yield, high risk bonds" which involve
 significant degree of risk). (See the Fund's prospectus for a discussion of the
 risk  factors   involved   in   investing   in   lower-rated   corporate   debt
 obligations).(3)

- -FEDERATED  INSURANCE SERIES--FEDERATED INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND II seeks total
 return on its assets by investing at least 65% of its assets (and under  normal
 market  conditions, substantially  all of its  assets) in  equity securities of
 issuers located in  at least three  different countries outside  of the  United
 States,  investing in non-U.S. securities carries substantial risks in addition
 to those associated with domestic investments.(3)

- -FEDERATED INSURANCE  SERIES--FEDERATED PRIME  MONEY FUND  II seeks  to  provide
 current  income consistent with stability of  principal and liquidity. The Fund
 pursues its investment  objective by  investing exclusively in  a portfolio  of
 money  market instruments maturing in 397 days or less. The average maturity of
 the  money  market  instruments  in   the  Fund's  portfolio,  computed  on   a
 dollar-weighted  basis, will be 90 days or  less. An investment in this Fund is
 neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. government.(3)

- -FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES--FEDERATED  UTILITY FUND  II seeks  to achieve  high
 current  income and moderate  capital appreciation by  investing primarily in a
 professionally managed and diversified portfolio of equity and debt  securities
 of  utility companies. Under normal market  conditions, the Fund will invest at
 least 65% of its total assets in securities of utility companies.(3)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND--EQUITY-INCOME  PORTFOLIO
 seeks  reasonable  income  by investing  primarily  in  income-producing equity
 securities. In selecting investments, the Fund also considers the potential for
 capital appreciation.(4)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE  PRODUCTS FUND--GROWTH PORTFOLIO  seeks
 capital  appreciation  by  investing  mainly  in  common  stocks,  although its
 investments are not restricted to any one type of security.(4)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE  INSURANCE PRODUCTS  FUND--HIGH INCOME  PORTFOLIO
 seeks  to obtain a high level of current income by investing primarily in high-
 yielding, lower-rated, fixed income  securities, while also considering  growth
 of  capital. Lower-rated corporate debt obligations are commonly known as "junk
 bonds" or "high yield, high risk bonds" and involve significant degree of  risk
 (see  the Fund's prospectus  for a discussion  of the risk  factors involved in
 investing in lower-rate corporate debt obligations).(4)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND--OVERSEAS PORTFOLIO seeks
 long-term growth by investing mainly in foreign securities (at least 65% of the
 Fund's total assets  in securities  of issuers  from at  least three  countries
 outside of North America).(4)

- -FIDELITY   INVESTMENTS  VARIABLE  INSURANCE  PRODUCTS  FUND  II--ASSET  MANAGER
 PORTFOLIO seeks  high total  return with  reduced risk  over the  long-term  by
 allocating   its  assets  among  stocks,   bonds  and  short-term  fixed-income
 instruments.(4)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II--CONTRAFUND  PORTFOLIO
 seeks  maximum total return  over the long  term by investing  in securities of
 companies that are undervalued or out-of-favor.(4)

- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE  PRODUCTS FUND II--INDEX 500  PORTFOLIO
 seeks  to provide  investment results  that correspond  to the  total return of
 common  stocks  publicly  traded  in  the  United  States  by  duplicating  the
 composition and total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price
 Index.(4)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       3
<PAGE>
- -FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II--INVESTMENT GRADE BOND
 PORTFOLIO  seeks as high  a level of  current income as  is consistent with the
 preservation of  capital by  investing  in a  broad range  of  investment-grade
 fixed-income securities.(4)

- -JANUS  ASPEN SERIES--AGGRESSIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO  is a NONDIVERSIFIED portfolio
 that seeks  long-term  growth  of  capital in  a  manner  consistent  with  the
 preservation  of  capital. The  Portfolio pursues  its investment  objective by
 normally investing at least  50% of its equity  assets in securities issued  by
 medium-sized   companies.  Medium-sized   companies  are   those  whose  market
 capitalizations fall within  the range of  companies in  the S &  P MidCap  400
 Index,  which  as  of  ___  included  companies  with  capitalizations  between
 approximately ___  and  ___, but  which  is expected  to  change on  a  regular
 basis.(5)

- -JANUS   ASPEN  SERIES--BALANCED  PORTFOLIO   seeks  long-term  capital  growth,
 consistent with preservation  of capital  and balanced by  current income.  The
 Portfolio  pursues its investment objective by  investing 40%-60% of its assets
 in equity securities selected primarily for their growth potential and  40%-60%
 of its assets in fixed-income securities.(5)

- -JANUS  ASPEN SERIES--FLEXIBLE  INCOME PORTFOLIO  seeks to  obtain maximum total
 return, consistent with preservation of  capital from a combination of  current
 income  and capital appreciation. The Portfolio  invests in all types of income
 producing securities and may have substantial holdings of debt securities rated
 below investment grade (e.g., junk bonds).(5)

- -JANUS ASPEN SERIES--GROWTH  PORTFOLIO seeks  long-term growth of  capital in  a
 manner  consistent with the preservation of  capital. The Portfolio pursues its
 investment objective by investing in common stocks of companies of any size.(5)

- -JANUS ASPEN SERIES--SHORT-TERM BOND PORTFOLIO seeks as high a level of  current
 income  as is consistent with preservation of capital by investing primarily in
 short-and intermediate-term fixed income securities.(5)

- -JANUS ASPEN  SERIES--WORLDWIDE  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO  seeks  long-term  growth  of
 capital  in a  manner consistent  with preservation  of capital.  The Portfolio
 pursues its investment objective primarily through investments in common stocks
 of foreign and domestic issuers.(5)

- -LEXINGTON EMERGING MARKETS  FUND seeks  long-term growth  of capital  primarily
 through  investment in  equity securities of  companies domiciled  in, or doing
 business in emerging  countries and emerging  markets. Investments in  emerging
 markets  involve  risks  not  present  in  domestic  markets.  See  the  Fund's
 prospectus for information on risks inherent in this investment.(6)

- -LEXINGTON NATURAL  RESOURCES TRUST  is a  NONDIVERSIFIED portfolio  that  seeks
 long-term  growth of capital  through investment primarily  in common stocks of
 companies which own or develop natural resources and other basic commodities or
 supply goods and services to such companies.(6)

- -TCI PORTFOLIOS, INC.--TCI  BALANCED (a  Twentieth Century  fund) seeks  capital
 growth  and current income. It seeks capital  growth by investing in 60% common
 stocks  (including  securities  convertible  into  common  stocks)  and   other
 securities  that meet certain fundamental  and technical standards of selection
 and,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Fund's  management,  have  better-than-average
 potential for appreciation. Management intends to maintain approximately 40% of
 the Portfolio's assets in fixed income securities.(7)

- -TCI  PORTFOLIOS,  INC.--TCI GROWTH  (a  Twentieth Century  fund)  seeks capital
 growth. The Fund seeks to achieve  its objective by investing in common  stocks
 (including securities convertible into common stocks) and other securities that
 meet  certain  fundamental and  technical standards  of  selection and,  in the
 opinion of the Fund's  investment manager, have  better than average  potential
 for appreciation.(7)

- -TCI  PORTFOLIOS,  INC.--TCI  INTERNATIONAL  (a  Twentieth  Century  fund) seeks
 capital  growth  by  investing  primarily  in  an  internationally  diversified
 portfolio  of common stocks that are considered by management to have prospects
 for appreciation.  The Fund  will  invest primarily  in securities  of  issuers
 located in countries with developed economies.(7)

Investment Advisers for each of the Funds:
(1) Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
(2) Fred Alger Management, Inc.
(3) Federated Advisers
(4) Fidelity Management & Research Company
(5) Janus Capital Corporation
(6) Lexington Management Corporation (adviser); Market Systems Research
    Advisors, Inc. serves as the subadviser for the Lexington Natural Resources
    Trust
(7) Investors Research Corporation

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       4
<PAGE>
    RISKS  ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENT  IN THE FUNDS.  Some of the  Funds may use
instruments known as derivatives as part of their investment strategies. The use
of certain derivatives may involve  high risk of volatility  to a Fund, and  the
use  of leverage in connection  with such derivatives can  also increase risk of
losses. Some of the Funds may also invest in foreign or international securities
which involve greater risks than U.S. investments.

    More comprehensive information, including  a discussion of potential  risks,
is  found in the  respective Fund prospectuses  which accompany this Prospectus.
You should  read  the  Fund  prospectuses  and  consider  carefully,  and  on  a
continuing  basis, which  Fund or  combination of Funds  is best  suited to your
long-term investment objectives.

    CONFLICTS OF INTEREST (MIXED  AND SHARED FUNDING). Shares  of the Funds  are
sold  to  each of  the Subaccounts  for funding  the variable  annuity contracts
issued by the Company. Shares of the  Funds may also be sold to other  insurance
companies  for the same purpose. This is referred to as "shared funding." Shares
of the Funds  may also  be used for  funding variable  life insurance  contracts
issued  by  the Company  or  by third  parties. This  is  referred to  as "mixed
funding."

    Because the Funds  available under the  Contract are sold  to fund  variable
annuity  contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by us or by other
companies, certain conflicts of interest could arise. If a conflict of  interest
were  to occur, one of the separate  accounts might withdraw its investment in a
Fund,  which   might  force   that  Fund   to  sell   portfolio  securities   at
disadvantageous  prices, causing  its per share  value to  decrease. Each Fund's
Board of Directors or Trustees has agreed to monitor events in order to identify
any material irreconcilable conflicts  which might arise  and to determine  what
action, if any, should be taken to address such conflict.

CREDITED INTEREST OPTION

    Purchase  Payments may  be allocated  to the  ALIAC Guaranteed  Account (the
"Guaranteed Account"). Through the  Guaranteed Account, we guarantee  stipulated
rates  of  interest for  stated  periods of  time.  Amounts must  remain  in the
Guaranteed Account for specified periods  to receive the quoted interest  rates,
or  a  market value  adjustment  (which may  be  positive or  negative)  will be
applied. (See the Appendix.)

                                    PURCHASE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTRACT AVAILABILITY

    The Contracts are  offered as (1)  nonqualified deferred annuity  contracts;
(2)  Individual  Retirement  Annuities;  or  (3)  subject  to  state  regulatory
approval,  Qualified  Contracts  used  in  conjunction  with  certain   employer
sponsored  retirement plans. (Contracts  of the type identified  in item (3) are
not available in the state of New  York. Additionally, under item (2), only  IRA
rollovers are permitted in New York.)

    Eligible  persons seeking to invest and  accumulate money for retirement can
purchase individual interests in  group Contracts, or,  where required by  state
law, they may purchase individual Contracts. In most states, group Contracts are
offered,  generally  to  certain  broker-dealers which  have  agreed  to  act as
distributors of the Contracts,  and individual accounts  are established by  the
Company for each Certificate Holder. In some states, an individual Contract will
be  owned  by the  Certificate  Holder. In  both  cases, a  Certificate Holder's
interest in the Contract is known as his or her "Account."

    The maximum issue age for  the Annuitant is 90  (age 80 for those  Contracts
issued  in the state of New  York, and age 85 for  those Contracts issued in the
state of Pennsylvania).

    JOINT CERTIFICATE  HOLDERS.   Nonqualified  Contracts  may be  purchased  by
spouses  as joint Certificate  Holders. In New York  and Pennsylvania, the joint
Certificate Holders  do  not need  to  be spouses.  References  to  "Certificate
Holders"  in  this Prospectus  mean  both of  the  Certificate Holders  on joint
Accounts. Tax  law  prohibits  the  purchase of  Qualified  Contracts  by  joint
Certificate Holders.

PURCHASING INTERESTS IN THE CONTRACT

    GROUP   CONTRACTS.    Groups  will   generally  consist  of  those  eligible
individuals who  have established  an  Account with  a broker-dealer  which  has
agreed  to act as a distributor for the Contracts. The Contract application must
be completed by the prospective group Contract Holder and sent to the Company at
its Home Office. Once we approve  the Contract application, a group Contract  is

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       5
<PAGE>
issued  to the group Contract Holder. Certificate Holders may purchase interests
in a group Contract by submitting  an enrollment form. Once the enrollment  form
is accepted a Certificate will be issued.

    INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS.  Certain states will not allow a group Contract due to
provisions  in their insurance laws. In  those states where individual Contracts
are offered,  eligible persons  will  submit an  individual application  to  the
Company.  In those states, an individual will be issued a Contract rather than a
Certificate.

    Regardless of whether you have purchased a group or individual Contract, the
Company must accept  or reject  the application  or enrollment  form within  two
business  days of receipt. If  these items are incomplete,  the Company may hold
any forms and accompanying  Purchase Payments for  five days. Purchase  Payments
may  be held for longer periods only with the consent of the Certificate Holder,
pending acceptance of the application or enrollment form. If the application  or
enrollment form is rejected, the application or enrollment form and any Purchase
Payments will be returned to the Certificate Holder.

PURCHASE PAYMENTS

    You  may make Purchase Payments under the  Contract in one lump sum, through
periodic payments or as a transfer from a pre-existing plan.

    The minimum  initial  Purchase Payment  amount  is $5,000  for  Nonqualified
Contracts  and $1,500 for Qualified Contracts. Additional Purchase Payments made
to an existing Contract must be at least $1,000 and are subject to the terms and
conditions published by  us at the  time of the  subsequent payment. A  Purchase
Payment of more than $1,000,000 will be allowed only with the Company's consent.
We  also reserve the  right to reject  any Purchase Payment  to a prospective or
existing Account without advance notice.

    For Qualified Contracts the Code imposes a maximum limit on annual  Purchase
Payments  which may  be excluded  from a  participant's gross  income. (See "Tax
Status.")

    ALLOCATION  OF  PURCHASE  PAYMENTS.  Purchase  Payments  will  initially  be
allocated  to  the Subaccounts  or the  Guaranteed Account  as specified  on the
application or  enrollment form.  Changes  in such  allocation  may be  made  in
writing  or by telephone transfer. Allocations must be in whole percentages, and
there may  be  limitations on  the  number of  investment  options that  can  be
selected during the Accumulation Period. (See "Transfers.")

CONTRACT RIGHTS

    Under individual Contracts, Certificate Holders have all Contract rights.

    Under  group Contracts, the group Contract  Holder has title to the Contract
and generally  only the  right to  accept  or reject  any modifications  to  the
Contract. You have all other rights to your Account under the Contract. However,
under  a Nonqualified Contract, if  you and the Annuitant  are not the same, and
the Annuitant dies  first, a  different provision  applies. In  this case,  your
rights are automatically transferred to the Beneficiary. (See "Death Benefit.")

    Joint  Certificate Holders  have equal  rights under  the Contract  and with
respect to their Account. On  the death of a  joint Certificate Holder prior  to
the  Annuity Date,  the surviving  Certificate Holder  may retain  all ownership
rights under the Contract or elect to have the proceeds distributed. (See "Death
Benefit.") All  rights  under the  Contract  must  be exercised  by  both  joint
Certificate Holders with the exception of transfers among investment options; at
our  discretion, one joint  Certificate Holder can  select additional investment
options or change investment options after the Account has been established.

DESIGNATIONS OF BENEFICIARY AND ANNUITANT

    You  generally  designate  the  beneficiary   under  the  Contract  on   the
application  or  enrollment form.  However,  for Qualified  Contracts  issued in
conjunction with a Code Section 401(a) qualified pension or profit sharing  plan
or  a Code Section 457 deferred compensation  plan, the employer or trustee must
be both the Certificate Holder and  the beneficiary under the Contract, and  the
participant  on whose behalf the Account  was established must be the Annuitant.
Under such plans the participant is generally allowed to designate a Beneficiary
under the plan,  and the Certificate  Holder may  direct that we  pay any  death
proceeds  to  the plan  Beneficiary. "Beneficiary"  as  used in  this Prospectus
refers to the person who is ultimately entitled to receive such proceeds.

    For Qualified Contracts issued in conjunction with a Code Section 403(b) tax
deferred annuity program subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security  Act
(ERISA), the spouse of a married participant must be the Beneficiary of at least
50% of the Account Value. If the

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       6
<PAGE>
married  participant is age 35  or older, the participant  may name an alternate
Beneficiary provided  the participant  furnishes a  waiver and  spousal  consent
which  meets the  requirements of  ERISA Section  205. The  participant on whose
behalf the Account was established must be the Annuitant.

    For Qualified Contracts issued as an Individual Retirement Annuity, you must
be the Annuitant. For  Nonqualified Contracts, you may  (but need not) select  a
different person as the Annuitant. (See "Purchase-- Contract Availability.")

RIGHT TO CANCEL

    You  may cancel the Contract or  Certificate without penalty by returning it
to the Company with a written notice  of your intent to cancel. In most  states,
you  have ten days to exercise this  right; some states allow you longer. Unless
state law requires otherwise, the amount you will receive upon cancellation will
reflect the investment performance of  the Subaccounts into which your  Purchase
Payments  were deposited. In some cases this may be more or less than the amount
of your Purchase Payments,  therefore, you bear the  entire investment risk  for
amounts  allocated  among the  Subaccounts during  the  free look  period. Under
Contracts issued as Individual Retirement  Annuities, you will receive a  refund
of  your Purchase Payment. Account Values will be determined as of the Valuation
Date on which we receive your request for cancellation at our Home Office.

                             CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAILY DEDUCTIONS FROM THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

    MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE.  The Company makes a daily deduction from
each of the Subaccounts for the mortality and expense risk charge. The charge is
equal, on an annual basis, to 1.25%  of the daily net assets of the  Subaccounts
and  compensates the  Company for  the assumption  of the  mortality and expense
risks under the Contract. The mortality risks are those assumed for our  promise
to  make lifetime payments according to annuity rates specified in the Contract.
The expense risk is the risk that  the actual expenses for costs incurred  under
the  Contract  will exceed  the  maximum costs  that  can be  charged  under the
Contract.

    If the amount deducted for mortality and expense risks is not sufficient  to
cover  the mortality  costs and  expense shortfalls,  the loss  is borne  by the
Company. If the deduction  is more than  sufficient, the excess  may be used  to
recover  distribution  expenses relating  to the  Contracts and  as a  source of
profit to the Company. The Company expects  to make a profit from the  mortality
and expense risk charge.

    ADMINISTRATIVE  CHARGE.  During the Accumulation Period, the Company makes a
daily deduction from each of the  Subaccounts for an administrative charge.  The
charge  is equal, on  an annual basis, to  0.15% of the daily  net assets of the
Subaccounts and compensates the Company for administrative expenses that  exceed
revenues  from the maintenance fee described below. The charge is set at a level
which does not exceed the average  expected cost of the administrative  services
to  be provided while the  Contract is in force. The  Company does not expect to
make a profit from this charge.

    During the  Annuity  Period,  the  Company reserves  the  right  to  make  a
deduction  for the administrative charge of an amount equal, on an annual basis,
to a maximum  of 0.25%  of the  daily net assets  of the  Subaccounts. There  is
currently  no administrative charge  during the Annuity  Period. Once an Annuity
Option is elected, the charge will  be established and will be effective  during
the entire Annuity Period.

MAINTENANCE FEE

    During   the  Accumulation  Period,  the   Company  will  deduct  an  annual
maintenance fee from the Account Value. The maintenance fee is to reimburse  the
Company  for some of  its administrative expenses  relating to the establishment
and maintenance of the Accounts.

    The maximum  maintenance  fee  deducted  under  the  Contract  is  $30.  The
maintenance fee will be deducted on a pro rata basis from each investment option
in  which you have an  interest. If your entire  Account Value is withdrawn, the
full maintenance fee will be deducted at the time of withdrawal. The maintenance
fee will not be  deducted (either annually or  upon withdrawal) if your  Account
Value is $50,000 or more on the day the maintenance fee is due.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       7
<PAGE>
REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE AND MAINTENANCE FEE

    The  administrative charge and maintenance fee will be reduced or eliminated
when sales of the contracts are made to individuals or to a group of individuals
in such  a  manner that  results  in  savings of  administrative  expenses.  The
entitlement to such a reduction will be based on:

(1) the  size and type of group of  individuals to whom the Contract is offered;
    and

(2) the amount of expected Purchase Payments.

    Any reduction or  elimination of  the administrative  charge or  maintenance
fees  will not be unfairly  discriminatory against any person.  We will make any
reduction in the administrative charge  or annual maintenance fees according  to
our  own rules in effect at the time  an application for a Contract is approved.
We reserve the right to change these rules from time to time.

DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

    Withdrawals of all or  a portion of  the Account Value may  be subject to  a
deferred  sales charge.  The deferred sales  charge is a  percentage of Purchase
Payments withdrawn from the Subaccounts and the Guaranteed Account and is  based
on  the number of years which have  elapsed since the Purchase Payment was made.
The deferred sales charge for each Purchase Payment is determined by multiplying
the Purchase Payment withdrawn by the appropriate percentage, in accordance with
the schedule set forth in the tables below.

    Withdrawals are  taken first  against Purchase  Payments, then  against  any
increase  in  value. However,  the  deferred sales  charge  only applies  to the
Purchase Payment (not to any associated changes in value). To satisfy a  partial
withdrawal,  the deferred sales charge is calculated as if the Purchase Payments
are withdrawn from the Subaccounts  in the same order  they were applied to  the
Account.  Partial withdrawals  from the  Guaranteed Account  will be  treated as
described in the  Appendix and the  prospectus for the  Guaranteed Account.  The
total  charge will be the sum of the  charges applicable for all of the Purchase
Payments withdrawn.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          DEFERRED
                                            SALES
YEARS SINCE RECEIPT OF                     CHARGE
PURCHASE PAYMENT                          DEDUCTION
- ----------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                       <C>
Less than 2                                    7%
2 or more but less than 4                      6%
4 or more but less than 5                      5%
5 or more but less than 6                      4%
6 or more but less than 7                      3%
7 or more                                      0%

   CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN NEW YORK

<CAPTION>
                                          DEFERRED
                                            SALES
YEARS SINCE RECEIPT OF                     CHARGE
PURCHASE PAYMENT                          DEDUCTION
- ----------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                       <C>
Less than 1                                    7%
1 or more but less than 2                      6%
2 or more but less than 3                      5%
3 or more but less than 4                      4%
4 or more but less than 5                      3%
5 or more but less than 6                      2%
6 or more but less than 7                      1%
7 or more                                      0%
</TABLE>

    A deferred sales charge will not be deducted from any portion of a  Purchase
Payment withdrawn if the withdrawal is:

- - applied to provide Annuity benefits;

- - paid  to a  Beneficiary due to  the Annuitant's death  before Annuity Payments
  start, up  to a  maximum of  the Purchase  Payment(s) in  the Account  on  the
  Annuitant's date of death;

- - made  due to the election of  an Additional Withdrawal Option (see "Additional
  Withdrawal Options");

- - paid upon a full withdrawal where the  Account Value is $2,500 or less and  no
  amount has been withdrawn during the prior 12 months; or

- - paid if we close out your Account when the value is less than $2,500.

    After  the first  Account Year, you  may withdraw  all or a  portion of your
Purchase Payments  without  a deferred  sales  charge, provided  that  (1)  such
withdrawal occurs

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       8
<PAGE>
within  three  years of  the Annuitant's  admission to  a licensed  nursing care
facility (including  non-licensed  facilities  in New  Hampshire)  and  (2)  the
Annuitant  has spent at least 45 consecutive  days in such facility. This waiver
of deferred sales charge does  not apply if the Annuitant  is in a nursing  care
facility  at the  time the  Account is  established. It  will also  not apply if
otherwise prohibited by state law.

    The Company does not  anticipate that the deferred  sales charge will  cover
all  sales and  administrative expenses which  it incurs in  connection with the
Contract. The difference will  be covered by the  general assets of the  Company
which are attributable, in part, to mortality and expense risk charges under the
Contract described above.

    FREE  WITHDRAWALS.   At least  12 months after  the date  the first Purchase
Payment is applied to your Account, you  may withdraw up to 10% of your  current
Account  Value  (up  to 15%  of  your  current Account  Value  for  Contracts or
Certificates issued in the State of New York) during each calendar year  without
imposition  of a deferred sales charge. The  free withdrawal applies only to the
first partial or  full withdrawal  in each  calendar year.  The free  withdrawal
amount  will be based on the Account Value calculated on the Valuation Date next
following our receipt of your request for withdrawal. If your withdrawal exceeds
the applicable free withdrawal allowance, we will deduct a deferred sales charge
on the excess amount. (See the Appendix for a discussion of withdrawals from the
Guaranteed Account.) This provision may not be exercised if you have elected the
Systematic Withdrawal  Option or  Estate Conservation  Option. (See  "Additional
Withdrawal Options.")

REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF THE DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

    We  may reduce  or eliminate  the deferred  sales charge  when sales  of the
Contracts are made to  individuals or a  group of individuals  in such a  manner
that  results in savings of sales expenses.  The entitlement to such a reduction
in the deferred sales charge will be based on the following:

(1) the size and type of group of individuals to whom the Contract is offered;

(2) the amount of expected Purchase Payments; and

(3) whether there is a prior or  existing relationship with the Company such  as
    being an employee of the Company or an affiliate, receiving distributions or
    making  internal transfers  from other Contracts  issued by  the Company, or
    making transfers  of amounts  held under  qualified plans  sponsored by  the
    Company or an affiliate.

    Any  reduction  or elimination  of  the deferred  sales  charge will  not be
unfairly discriminatory against any person.

FUND EXPENSES

    Each Fund incurs  certain expenses  which are paid  out of  its net  assets.
These   expenses  include,  among  other  things,  the  investment  advisory  or
"management" fee. The expenses of  the Funds are set forth  in the Fee Table  in
this Prospectus and described more fully in the accompanying Fund prospectuses.

PREMIUM AND OTHER TAXES

    Several  states and municipalities impose a  premium tax on Annuities. These
taxes currently range from 0% to 4%.  Ordinarily, any state premium tax will  be
deducted  from  the Account  Value  when it  is  applied to  an  Annuity Option.
However, we reserve  the right  to deduct state  premium tax  from the  Purchase
Payment(s)  or from the Account Values at any  time, but no earlier than when we
have a tax liability under state law.

    Any municipal  premium tax  assessed  at a  rate in  excess  of 1%  will  be
deducted  from the Purchase Payment(s) or from  the amount applied to an Annuity
Option based on our determination  of when such tax is  due. We will absorb  any
municipal  premium tax which  is assessed at  1% or less.  We reserve the right,
however, to  reflect  this added  expense  in  our Annuity  purchase  rates  for
residents of such municipalities.

                               CONTRACT VALUATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACCOUNT VALUE

    Until  the Annuity  Date, the  Account Value  is the  total dollar  value of
amounts held in the Account as of  any Valuation Date. The Account Value at  any
given  time is based on the value of the units held in each Subaccount, plus the
value of amounts held in the Guaranteed Account.

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                                       9
<PAGE>
ACCUMULATION UNITS

    The value of your interests  in a Subaccount is  expressed as the number  of
"Accumulation  Units" that you  hold multiplied by  an "Accumulation Unit Value"
(or "AUV")  for each  unit.  The AUV  on any  Valuation  Date is  determined  by
multiplying  the value  on the immediately  preceding Valuation Date  by the net
investment factor  of that  Subaccount for  the period  between the  immediately
preceding  Valuation Date and  the current Valuation  Date. (See "Net Investment
Factor" below.) The Accumulation Unit Value  will be affected by the  investment
performance, expenses and charges of the applicable Fund and is reduced each day
by  a percentage that accounts for the daily assessment of mortality and expense
risk charges and the administrative charge (if any).

    Initial Purchase  Payments will  be credited  to your  Account as  described
under  "Purchasing Interests in the  Contract." Each subsequent Purchase Payment
(or amount transferred) will be credited to your Account at the AUV computed  on
the  next  Valuation Date  following  our receipt  of  your payment  or transfer
request. The value of an Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease.

NET INVESTMENT FACTOR

    The net investment factor is used to measure the investment performance of a
Subaccount from one Valuation Date to the next. The net investment factor for  a
Subaccount  for any valuation period is equal to  the sum of 1.0000 plus the net
investment rate. The net investment rate equals:

(a) the net assets of the Fund held  by the Subaccount on the current  Valuation
    Date, minus

(b) the net assets of the Fund held by the Subaccount on the preceding Valuation
    Date, plus or minus

(c) taxes  or provisions for taxes, if any, attributable to the operation of the
    Subaccount, divided by

(d) the AUV of the Subaccount on the preceding Valuation Date, minus

(e) a daily  charge at  the annual  effective rate  of 1.25%  for mortality  and
    expense risks, and an administrative charge of 0.15% during the Accumulation
    Period  and up to 0.25%  during the Annuity Period  (currently 0% during the
    Annuity Period).

    The net investment rate may be either positive or negative.

                                   TRANSFERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    At any time prior to the Annuity  Date, you can transfer amounts held  under
your  Account  from one  Subaccount to  another.  Transfers from  the Guaranteed
Account may be subject to certain restrictions and to a market value adjustment.
(See the Appendix.) A request for transfer  can be made either in writing or  by
telephone.  The  telephone  transfer privilege  is  available  automatically; no
special election is  necessary. All  transfers must  be in  accordance with  the
terms of the Contract.

    The  Company currently allows unlimited  transfers of accumulated amounts to
available investment options.  Twelve free  transfers are  allowed per  calendar
year.  Thereafter, the Company reserves  the right to charge  up to $10 for each
additional transfer.  The Company  currently does  not impose  this charge.  The
total  number of investment options that  you may select during the Accumulation
Period may be limited, as set forth on your application or enrollment form.  Any
transfer  will be based on the Accumulation Unit Value next determined after the
Company receives a  valid transfer  request at  its Home  Office. Transfers  are
currently  not available  during the  Annuity Period;  however, they  may become
available during the second half of 1996. (See "Annuity Options.")

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING PROGRAM

    You may establish  automated transfers  of Account  Values on  a monthly  or
quarterly basis through the Company's Dollar Cost Averaging Program. Dollar cost
averaging is a system for investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals
over a period of time. The Dollar Cost Averaging Program permits the transfer of
amounts  from any  of the variable  funding options and  the one-year Guaranteed
Term to any of the variable investment options. Where state regulatory  approval
has  been received, a market value adjustment will not be applied to dollar cost
averaging  transfers   from  the   one-year   Guaranteed  Term.   Consult   your
representative  to determine whether the waiver  is approved in your state. (See
the Appendix for a discussion of  the restrictions and features attributable  to
the Guaranteed Account.)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       10
<PAGE>
    Dollar cost averaging does not ensure a profit nor guarantee against loss in
a  declining  market. You  should consider  your  financial ability  to continue
purchases through  periods  of low  price  levels. For  additional  information,
please refer to the Inquiries section of the Prospectus Summary, which describes
how you can obtain further information.

    The  Dollar Cost Averaging Program is  not available to individuals who have
elected an Additional Withdrawal Option or the Account Rebalancing Program.

ACCOUNT REBALANCING PROGRAM

    The Account Rebalancing Program allows you to have portions of your  Account
Value automatically reallocated annually to a specified percentage. Only Account
Values accumulating in the Subaccounts can be rebalanced. You may participate in
this program by completing the Account Rebalancing section of the application or
enrollment  form, or  by sending a  written request  to the Company  at its Home
Office.

    The Account Rebalancing Program is not available to Certificate Holders  who
have  elected the  Dollar Cost  Averaging Program,  and the  Account Rebalancing
Program does  not ensure  a profit  nor guarantee  against loss  in a  declining
market.

                                  WITHDRAWALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All  or a portion of your Account Value  may be withdrawn at any time during
the Accumulation Period. To request a  withdrawal, you must properly complete  a
disbursement  form  and send  it  to our  Home  Office. Payments  for withdrawal
requests will be  made in  accordance with  SEC requirements,  but normally  not
later than seven calendar days following our receipt of a disbursement form.

    Withdrawals may be requested in one of the following forms:

- -FULL  WITHDRAWAL OF AN ACCOUNT:  The amount paid for  a full withdrawal will be
 the Adjusted  Account Value  minus  any applicable  deferred sales  charge  and
 maintenance fee due.

- -PARTIAL  WITHDRAWALS: (Percentage): The  amount paid will  be the percentage of
 the Adjusted  Account  Value  requested minus  any  applicable  deferred  sales
 charge.

- -PARTIAL  WITHDRAWALS: (Specified  Dollar Amount): The  amount paid  will be the
 dollar amount requested. However, the  amount withdrawn from your Account  will
 equal the amount you request plus any applicable deferred sales charge and plus
 or minus any applicable market value adjustment.

    For  any partial  withdrawal, the value  of the  Accumulation Units canceled
will be withdrawn proportionately from the Guaranteed Account or the Subaccounts
in which your Purchase Payments are  allocated, unless you request otherwise  in
writing.  All amounts paid  will be based on  your Account Value  as of the next
Valuation Date after we receive a request for withdrawal at our Home Office,  or
on  such later date as the disbursement form may specify. Taxes or tax penalties
may be due on the amount withdrawn. (See "Tax Status.")

    The tax  treatment of  withdrawals from  each Nonqualified  Contract may  be
affected  if you own  other annuity contracts  issued by us  (or our affiliates)
that were purchased on or after October 21, 1988. (See "Tax Status.")

    WITHDRAWAL RESTRICTIONS FROM 403(B)  PLANS. Under Section 403(b)  Contracts,
the   withdrawal  of  salary  reduction   contributions  and  earnings  on  such
contributions  is  generally  prohibited  prior  to  the  participant's   death,
disability,  attainment  of age  59 1/2,  separation  from service  or financial
hardship. (See "Tax Status.")

                         ADDITIONAL WITHDRAWAL OPTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Company offers certain  withdrawal options under  the Contract that  are
not  considered Annuity  Options ("Additional Withdrawal  Options"). To exercise
these options, your Account Value must  meet the minimum dollar amounts and  age
criteria applicable to that option.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       11
<PAGE>
    The  Additional Withdrawal  Options currently  available under  the Contract
include the following:

- -SWO--SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL OPTION. SWO is a series of partial withdrawals  from
 your Account based on a payment method you select. It is designed for those who
 want  a  periodic income  while  retaining investment  flexibility  for amounts
 accumulated under a Contract.

- -ECO--ESTATE CONSERVATION OPTION. ECO offers the same investment flexibility  as
 SWO but is designed for those who want to receive only the minimum distribution
 that  the  Code  requires each  year.  ECO  is only  available  under Qualified
 Contracts. Under ECO,  the Company calculates  the minimum distribution  amount
 required by law, generally at age 70 1/2, and pays you that amount once a year.
 (See "Tax Status.")

    Other  Additional  Withdrawal  Options  may  be  added  from  time  to time.
Additional information relating to any of the Additional Withdrawal Options  may
be  obtained from  your local  representative or  from the  Company at  its Home
Office.

    If you select one of the Additional Withdrawal Options, you will retain  all
of   the  rights  and  flexibility  permitted  under  the  Contract  during  the
Accumulation Period.  Your Account  Value will  continue to  be subject  to  the
charges and deductions described in this Prospectus.

    Once  you elect an Additional Withdrawal Option,  you may revoke it any time
by submitting a written request to our  Home Office. Once an option is  revoked,
it  may not be elected  again nor may any  other Additional Withdrawal Option be
elected unless  permitted  by  the  Code. The  Company  reserves  the  right  to
discontinue  the  availability  of one  or  all of  these  Additional Withdrawal
Options at any time, and/or to change the terms of future elections.

                    DEATH BENEFIT DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A death benefit will be payable  to the Beneficiary(ies) if the  Certificate
Holder  or the Annuitant  dies before annuity payments  have commenced. Upon the
death of a  joint Certificate Holder  prior to the  Annuity Date, the  surviving
Certificate  Holder, if any,  will become the  designated Beneficiary. Any other
Beneficiary designation on record with the Company at the time of death will  be
treated as a contingent Beneficiary.

    The  amount of death benefit  proceeds will be determined  as of the date of
death. Under some circumstances, the amount of the death benefit is  guaranteed,
as described below.

DEATH BENEFIT AMOUNT

    Upon  the death  of the  Annuitant, the death  benefit proceeds  will be the
greatest of:

(1) the total Purchase Payment(s) applied to  the Account, minus the sum of  all
    amounts withdrawn, annuitized or deducted from such Account;

(2) (a)  in  jurisdictions  where  regulatory approval  has  been  received, the
    highest step-up value as  calculated under this subparagraph  (a) as of  the
    date  of death. The step-up  value is determined on  each anniversary of the
    Effective Date,  up to  the  Annuitant's 75th  birthday (85th  birthday  for
    Contracts  or  Certificates  issued  in New  York).  Each  step-up  value is
    calculated as the Account Value on the Effective Date anniversary, increased
    by  Purchase  Payments  applied,  and  decreased  by  partial   withdrawals,
    annuitizations  and deductions  taken from  the Account  since the Effective
    Date anniversary; or

(2) (b) in those jurisdictions where regulatory  approval for 2(a) has NOT  been
    received,  the highest step-up  value as calculated  under this subparagraph
    (b) as  of the  date  of death.  The step-up  value  is determined  on  each
    anniversary of the Effective Date, up to the Annuitant's 75th birthday. Each
    step-up  value is calculated as the Account Value on the most recent seventh
    year anniversary  of  the  date  the  last  Purchase  Payment  was  applied,
    increased   by  Purchase   Payments  applied,   and  decreased   by  partial
    withdrawals, annuitizations and deductions taken from the Account since  the
    Effective Date anniversary; or

(3) the Account Value as of the date of death.

    The  excess, if any, of the guaranteed  death benefit value over the Account
Value is determined as of the date of death. Any excess amount will be deposited
and allocated to the money market  Subaccount available under the Contract.  The
Account  Value  on the  claim date  plus  any excess  amount deposited  into the
Account becomes the Certificate  Holder's Account Value. The  claim date is  the
date  we receive valid  proof of death  and the Beneficiary's  claim at our Home
Office.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       12
<PAGE>
    Upon the death of a spousal Beneficiary who continued the Account in his  or
her  own name,  the amount of  the death benefit  proceeds will be  equal to the
Adjusted Account  Value,  less  any  deferred sales  charge  applicable  to  any
Purchase Payments made after we receive proof of death.

    Under  Nonqualifed  Contracts only,  if the  Certificate  Holder is  not the
Annuitant and dies, the amount  of death benefit proceeds  will be equal to  the
Adjusted  Account Value on  the claim date.  Full or partial  withdrawals may be
subject to a deferred sales charge.

    For amounts  held  in  the  Guaranteed  Account,  see  the  Appendix  for  a
discussion of the calculation of death benefit proceeds.

DEATH BENEFIT PAYMENT OPTIONS

    Death benefit proceeds may be paid to the Beneficiary as described below. If
you  die and no Beneficiary exists, the death benefit will be paid in a lump sum
to your estate.  Prior to any  election, the  Account Value will  remain in  the
Account  and the Account  Value will continue  to be affected  by the investment
performance of the investment option(s) selected. The Beneficiary has the  right
to  allocate or transfer any amount  to any available investment option (subject
to  a  market  value  adjustment,   as  applicable).  The  Code  requires   that
distributions  begin within  a certain  time period,  as described  below. If no
elections  are  made,  no  distributions  will  be  made.  Failure  to  commence
distribution within those time periods can result in tax penalties.

NONQUALIFIED CONTRACTS

    Under a Nonqualified Contract, if you die, or if you are a nonnatural person
and  the Annuitant dies, and the Beneficiary is your surviving spouse, he or she
automatically  becomes   the  successor   Certificate  Holder.   The   successor
Certificate Holder may exercise all rights under the Account and (1) continue in
the  Accumulation Period; (2) elect to apply some or all of the Adjusted Account
Value to any  of the  Annuity Options; or  (3) receive  at any time  a lump  sum
payment  equal to all or a portion of the Adjusted Account Value. If you die and
you are not the Annuitant any  applicable deferred sales charge will be  applied
if a lump sum payment is elected. Under the Code, distributions are not required
until the successor Certificate Holder's death.

    If  you die and the Beneficiary is not  your surviving spouse, he or she may
elect option (2)  or (3)  above. According  to the  Code, and  subject to  state
regulatory  approval, any portion of the  Adjusted Account Value not distributed
in installments over the  life or life expectancy  beginning within one year  of
your  death, must be paid  within five years of your  death. (See "Tax Status of
the Contract.")

    If you are a natural  person but not the  Annuitant and the Annuitant  dies,
the  Beneficiary may  elect to  apply the Adjusted  Account Value  to an Annuity
Option within 60 days  or to receive  a lump sum payment  equal to the  Adjusted
Account Value, subject to state regulatory approval. If the Beneficiary does not
elect  an Annuity Option within 60 days of  the date of death, the gain, if any,
will be includable in the Beneficiary's income in the year the Annuitant dies.

    If SWO is  in effect,  payments will cease  at the  Certificate Holder's  or
Annuitant's death. A Beneficiary, however, may elect to continue SWO.

QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

    Under  a Qualified Contract, the  death benefit is paid  at the death of the
participant, who is the  Annuitant under the Contract.  The Beneficiary has  the
following options: (1) apply some or all of the Adjusted Account Value to any of
the Annuity Options, subject to the distribution rules in Code Section 401(a)(9)
or  (2) receive at any time a lump sum  payment equal to all or a portion of the
Adjusted Account Value.  If the Account  was established in  conjunction with  a
Section  401(a)  qualified  pension or  profit  sharing  plan or  a  Section 457
deferred compensation plan, payment will be made, as directed by the Certificate
Holder, to either the Certificate Holder or to the plan beneficiary.

    If ECO or  SWO is in  effect and  the participant dies  before the  required
beginning date for minimum distributions, payments will cease. A Beneficiary, or
the  Certificate Holder on  behalf of a  plan Beneficiary, may  elect ECO or SWO
provided the election would satisfy the Code minimum distribution rules.

    If ECO or  SWO is  in effect  and the  participant dies  after the  required
beginning  date for minimum  distributions, payments will  continue as permitted
under the Code minimum distribution rules, unless the option is revoked.

    Death benefit payments must satisfy  the distribution rules in Code  Section
401(a)(9). (See "Tax Status of the Contract.")

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                                       13
<PAGE>
                                 ANNUITY PERIOD
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANNUITY PERIOD ELECTIONS

    You must notify us in writing of the date you want Annuity Payments to start
(the  "Annuity  Date") and  the Annuity  Option  elected. Once  Annuity Payments
start, the Annuity Date and Annuity  Option cannot be changed. Payments may  not
begin  earlier than one year  after purchase, or, unless  we consent, later than
the later of  (a) the  first day  of the  month following  the Annuitant's  85th
birthday,  or  (b) the  tenth anniversary  of the  last Purchase  Payment (fifth
anniversary for Contracts issued in Pennsylvania).

    Annuity Payments will not begin until you have selected an Annuity Date  and
an Annuity Option.

    The  Code generally  requires that  for Qualified  Contracts, minimum annual
distributions of the Account Value must begin by April 1st of the calendar  year
following  the  calendar year  in which  a  participant attains  age 70  1/2. In
addition, distributions must be in a  form and amount sufficient to satisfy  the
Code  requirements.  These  requirements may  be  satisfied by  the  election of
certain Annuity Options  or Additional Withdrawal  Options. (See "Tax  Status.")
For  Nonqualified Contracts, failure to select  an Annuity Option and an Annuity
Date, or postponement of the Annuity Date past the Annuitant's 85th birthday  or
tenth   anniversary  of  your  last  Purchase   Payment  may  have  adverse  tax
consequences. You  should  consult with  a  qualified  tax adviser  if  you  are
considering such a course of action.

    At least 30 days prior to the Annuity Date, you must notify us in writing of
the following:

- - the date on which you would like Annuity Payments to begin;

- - the Annuity Option under which you want payments to be calculated and paid;

- - whether  the  payments are  to be  made  monthly, quarterly,  semi-annually or
  annually; and

- - the investment  option(s) used  to  provide Annuity  Payments (i.e.,  a  fixed
  Annuity  using the  general account  or a  variable Annuity  using any  of the
  Subaccounts available at the time of  annuitization). [As of the date of  this
  Prospectus,  Aetna  Variable Fund,  Aetna Income  Shares and  Aetna Investment
  Advisers Fund, Inc.  are the only  Subaccounts available; however,  additional
  Subaccounts  may be available under some  Annuity Options in the future. ("See
  Annuity Options.")]

    Annuity Payments will not begin until  you have selected an Annuity  Option.
Until  a  date  and  option  are  elected,  the  Account  will  continue  in the
Accumulation Period. Once Annuity Payments begin, the Annuity Option may not  be
changed,  nor may  transfers currently  be made  among the  investment option(s)
selected. (See  "Annuity Options"  below for  more information  about  transfers
during the Annuity Period.)

PARTIAL ANNUITIZATION

    You  may elect an Annuity  Option with respect to  a portion of your Account
Value, while leaving the remaining portion of your Account Value invested in the
Accumulation Period. The Code and the regulations thereunder do not specifically
address the  tax  treatment applicable  to  payments provided  pursuant  to  the
exercise  of this option. The Company  takes the position that payments provided
pursuant to  this  option  are  taxable  as  annuity  payments,  and  not  as  a
withdrawal.  However, because  the tax treatment  of such  payments is currently
unclear, you should consult with a qualified tax adviser if you are  considering
a partial annuitization of your Account.

ANNUITY OPTIONS

    You may choose one of the following Annuity Options:

LIFETIME ANNUITY OPTIONS:

- -OPTION  1--Life  Annuity--An annuity  with payments  ending on  the Annuitant's
 death.

- -OPTION 2--Life  Annuity with  Guaranteed Payments--  An annuity  with  payments
 guaranteed  for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years, or such other periods as the Company may
 offer at the time of annuitization.

- -OPTION 3--Life Income Based Upon the  Lives of Two Annuitants--An Annuity  will
 be  paid during the lives  of the Annuitant and  a second Annuitant, with 100%,
 66 2/3% or 50% of the payment to continue after the first death, or 100% of the
 payment to continue at the death of the second Annuitant and 50% of the payment
 to continue at the death of the Annuitant.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       14
<PAGE>
- -OPTION 4--Life Income Based Upon the  Lives of Two Annuitants--An annuity  with
 payments  for a  minimum of 120  months, with  100% of the  payment to continue
 after the first death.

    If Option 1 or 3  is elected, it is possible  that only one Annuity  Payment
will  be made if the Annuitant under  Option 1, or the surviving Annuitant under
Option 3, should die prior to the  due date of the second Annuity Payment.  Once
lifetime  Annuity Payments begin, the Certificate Holder cannot elect to receive
a lump-sum settlement.

NONLIFETIME ANNUITY OPTION:

    Under the nonlifetime option, payments may be made for generally 5-30 years,
as selected. If  this option  is elected on  a variable  basis, the  Certificate
Holder  may request at any time during the payment period that the present value
of all or any  portion of the  remaining variable payments be  paid in one  sum.
However, any lump-sum elected before three years of payments have been completed
will  be  treated  as  a  withdrawal  during  the  Accumulation  Period  and any
applicable  deferred  sales   charge  will  be   assessed.  (See  "Charges   and
Deductions--  Deferred Sales Charge.") If the nonlifetime option is elected on a
fixed basis, you cannot elect to receive a lump-sum settlement.

    We may also offer additional Annuity  Options under your Contract from  time
to  time.  Later in  1996,  subject to  state  regulatory approval,  the Company
expects to offer additional Annuity Options and enhanced versions of the Annuity
Options listed above. These additional Annuity Options and enhanced versions  of
the  existing options will have additional  Subaccounts available and will allow
transfers between Subaccounts  during the  Annuity Period. Please  refer to  the
Contract or Certificate, or call the number listed in the "Inquiries" section of
the  Prospectus Summary, to determine which  options are available and the terms
of such options. It  is not expected that  these additional or enhanced  options
will  be made  available to those  who have already  commenced receiving Annuity
Payments.

ANNUITY PAYMENTS

    DATE PAYOUTS START.  When payments start, the age of the Annuitant plus  the
number  of  years for  which payments  are  guaranteed must  not exceed  95. For
Qualified Contracts only, Annuity Payments may not extend beyond (a) the life of
the Annuitant,  (b) the  joint lives  of the  Annuitant and  beneficiary, (c)  a
period  certain greater  than the Annuitant's  life expectancy, or  (d) a period
certain  greater  than  the  joint  life  expectancies  of  the  Annuitant   and
Beneficiary.

    AMOUNT  OF EACH ANNUITY PAYMENT.  The  amount of each payment depends on how
you allocate your Account Value between fixed and variable payouts. No  election
may  be made that would result in the first Annuity Payment of less than $50, or
total yearly Annuity Payments of less than $250 (less if required by state law).
If the Account Value on the Annuity Date is insufficient to elect an option  for
the minimum amount specified, a lump-sum payment must be elected. We reserve the
right  to  increase the  minimum first  Annuity Payment  amount and  the minimum
annual Annuity Payment amount based on increases reflected in the Consumer Price
Index-Urban (CPI-U), since July 1, 1993.

    If Annuity  Payments are  to be  made on  a variable  basis, the  first  and
subsequent  payments  will vary  depending on  the  assumed net  investment rate
selected (3 1/2% or 5% per annum). Selection of a 5% rate causes a higher  first
payment,  but Annuity Payments will increase  thereafter only to the extent that
the net investment  rate exceeds  5% on  an annualized  basis. Annuity  Payments
would decline if the rate were below 5%. Use of the 3 1/2% assumed rate causes a
lower  first payment,  but subsequent  payments would  increase more  rapidly or
decline more  slowly as  changes occur  in  the net  investment rate.  (See  the
Statement  of Additional  Information for  further discussion  on the  impact of
selecting an assumed net investment rate.)

CHARGES DEDUCTED DURING THE ANNUITY PERIOD

    We make a daily deduction for  mortality and expense risks from any  amounts
held  on  a variable  basis.  Therefore, electing  the  nonlifetime option  on a
variable basis will result in  a deduction being made  even though we assume  no
mortality  risk. We may  also deduct a daily  administrative charge from amounts
held under  the  variable options.  This  charge, established  when  a  variable
Annuity  Option is elected, will not exceed 0.25%  per year of amounts held on a
variable basis. Once established, the charge will be effective during the entire
Annuity Period. (See "Charges and Deductions.")

DEATH BENEFIT PAYABLE DURING THE
ANNUITY PERIOD

    If an Annuitant dies  after Annuity Payments have  begun, any death  benefit
payable  will  depend  on the  terms  of  the Contract  and  the  Annuity Option
selected. If

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                                       15
<PAGE>
Option  1 or Option 3  was elected, Annuity Payments will  cease on the death of
the Annuitant  under Option  1 or  the death  of the  surviving Annuitant  under
Option 3.

    If  Lifetime Option 2 or Option 4 was elected and the death of the Annuitant
under Option 2, or the surviving Annuitant  under Option 4, occurs prior to  the
end  of the guaranteed minimum payment period, we will pay to the Beneficiary in
a lump sum,  unless otherwise  requested, the  present value  of the  guaranteed
annuity payments remaining.

    If  the nonlifetime  option was elected,  and the Annuitant  dies before all
payments are made, the value of any remaining payments may be paid in a lump-sum
to the Beneficiary (unless  otherwise requested), and  no deferred sales  charge
will be imposed.

    If  the Annuitant dies after  Annuity Payments have begun  and if there is a
death benefit payable under the Annuity Option elected, the remaining value must
be distributed to  the Beneficiary  at least as  rapidly as  under the  original
method of distribution.

    Any  lump-sum  payment paid  under  the applicable  lifetime  or nonlifetime
Annuity Options will  be made within  seven calendar days  after proof of  death
acceptable to us, and a request for payment are received at our Home Office. The
value  of any death benefit proceeds will be determined as of the next Valuation
Date after we receive acceptable proof of death and a request for payment.

                                   TAX STATUS
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INTRODUCTION

    The following  provides a  general discussion  and is  not intended  as  tax
advice.  This discussion reflects the Company's understanding of current federal
income tax law. Such laws may change in the future, and it is possible that  any
change  could be retroactive (i.e., effective prior  to the date of the change).
The Company makes no  guarantee regarding the tax  treatment of any contract  or
transaction involving a Contract.

    The  Contract may be  purchased on a  non-tax qualified basis ("Nonqualified
Contract")  or  purchased  and  used  in  connection  with  certain   retirement
arrangements  entitled  to special  income tax  treatment under  Section 401(a),
403(b), 408(b) or 457 of the  Code ("Qualified Contracts"). The ultimate  effect
of  federal  income taxes  on  the amounts  held  under a  Contract,  on Annuity
Payments, and on the economic benefit to the Contract Holder, Certificate Holder
or Beneficiary may depend upon the  tax status of the individual concerned.  Any
person  concerned about  these tax implications  should consult  a competent tax
adviser before initiating any transaction.

TAXATION OF THE COMPANY

    The Company is taxed as a life  insurance company under the Code. Since  the
Separate  Account is  not an entity  separate from  the Company, it  will not be
taxed separately as a "regulated investment company" under the Code.  Investment
income and realized capital gains are automatically applied to increase reserves
under the Contracts. Under existing federal income tax law, the Company believes
that  the Separate Account investment income and realized net capital gains will
not be taxed to the  extent that such income and  gains are applied to  increase
the reserves under the Contracts.

    Accordingly,  the Company does not anticipate that it will incur any federal
income tax liability attributable  to the Separate  Account and, therefore,  the
Company  does not  intend to  make provisions  for any  such taxes.  However, if
changes in the federal tax laws or interpretation thereof result in the  Company
being  taxed on income or  gains attributable to the  Separate Account, then the
Company may impose a charge against  the Separate Account (with respect to  some
or all Contracts) in order to set aside provisions to pay such taxes.

TAX STATUS OF THE CONTRACT

    Diversification.  Section 817(h) of  the Code requires  that with respect to
Nonqualified Contracts, the investments of the Funds be "adequately diversified"
in accordance with Treasury Regulations in order for the Contracts to qualify as
annuity contracts  under federal  tax  law. The  Separate Account,  through  the
Funds, intends to comply with the diversification requirements prescribed by the
Treasury  in  Reg. Sec.  1.817-5, which  affects  how the  Funds' assets  may be
invested.

    In addition, in certain circumstances, owners of variable annuity  contracts
may  be considered the owners, for federal income tax purposes, of the assets of
the

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                                       16
<PAGE>
separate accounts  used  to support  their  contracts. In  these  circumstances,
income  and gains from  the separate account  assets would be  includible in the
variable contract owner's gross income. The IRS has stated in published  rulings
that  a variable contract owner will be considered the owner of separate account
assets if the contract owner possesses incidents of investment control over  the
assets. The ownership rights under the contract are similar to, but different in
certain  respects from  those described by  the IRS  in rulings in  which it was
determined that contract owners were not owners of separate account assets.  For
example,  a Certificate Holder has  additional flexibility in allocating premium
payments and account values. In addition, the number of funds provided under the
Contract is significantly greater than the number of funds offered in  contracts
on  which  rulings  have  been  issued.  These  differences  could  result  in a
Certificate Holder being  treated as  the owner  of a  pro rata  portion of  the
assets  of the Separate  Account. The Company  reserves the right  to modify the
Contract as necessary  to attempt  to prevent  a Certificate  Holder from  being
considered the owner of a pro rata share of the assets of the Separate Account.

    REQUIRED DISTRIBUTIONS--NONQUALIFIED CONTRACTS: In order to be treated as an
annuity  contract for  federal income  tax purposes,  Section 72(s)  of the Code
requires Nonqualified Contracts to  provide that (a)  if any Certificate  Holder
dies  on or after the Annuity Date but  prior to the time the entire interest in
the Contract has been distributed, the  remaining portion of such interest  will
be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution in effect
at the time of the Certificate Holder's death, and (b) if any Certificate Holder
dies  prior to  the Annuity Date,  the entire  interest in the  Contract will be
distributed within five years after the date of such Certificate Holder's death.
These requirements  will  be  considered  satisfied  as  to  any  portion  of  a
Certificate  Holder's  interest which  is payable  to  or for  the benefit  of a
"designated beneficiary"  and  which  is  distributed  over  the  life  of  such
"designated  beneficiary"  or  over  a  period  not  extending  beyond  the life
expectancy of that  beneficiary, provided that  such distributions begin  within
one  year of the Certificate Holder's death. The "designated beneficiary" refers
to a natural person designated by the Certificate Holder as a Beneficiary and to
whom ownership  of the  contract passes  by  reason of  death. However,  if  the
"designated  beneficiary" is  the surviving  spouse of  the deceased Certificate
Holder, the  Account may  be continued  with  the surviving  spouse as  the  new
Certificate Holder.

    The  Nonqualifed Contracts contain  provisions which are  intended to comply
with the requirements  of Section  72(s) of  the Code,  although no  regulations
interpreting  these requirements  have yet been  issued. The  Company intends to
review such provisions and modify them  if necessary to assure that they  comply
with  the requirements  of Code  Section 72(s)  when clarified  by regulation or
otherwise.

    The  discussion  under  "Taxation  of  Annuities"  below  is  based  on  the
assumption that the Contract qualifies as an annuity contract for federal income
tax purposes.

    REQUIRED   DISTRIBUTIONS--QUALIFIED   CONTRACTS:  The   Code   has  required
distribution rules  for Section  401(a),  403(b) and  457 Plans  and  Individual
Retirement  Annuities.  Distributions must  generally begin  by  April 1  of the
calendar year following the calendar year  in which the participant attains  age
70  1/2. For governmental  or church 401(a), 403(b)  or 457 plans, distributions
must begin by  April 1  of the  calendar year  following the  calendar year  the
participant  attains age 70 1/2 or retires, whichever occurs later. Under 403(b)
plans, if the Company maintains  separate records, distribution of amounts  held
as  of December 31, 1986 must generally begin by the end of the calendar year in
which the participant attains age 75 (or retires, if later, for governmental  or
church plans). However, special rules require that some or all of the balance be
distributed  earlier if  any distributions  are taken  in excess  of the minimum
required amount.

    To comply with these provisions, distributions must be in a form and  amount
sufficient   to  satisfy  the  minimum  distribution  and  minimum  distribution
incidental death benefit rules specified in Section 401(a) (9) of the Code.

    In general, annuity payments must be distributed over the participant's life
or the joint  lives of the  participant and  beneficiary, or over  a period  not
greater than the participant's life expectancy or the joint life expectancies of
the participant and beneficiary. Also, any distribution under a Section 457 Plan
payable  over  a period  of more  than one  year must  be made  in substantially
nonincreasing amounts.

    If the participant dies on or after the required beginning date for  minimum
distributions, distributions to the beneficiary must be made at least as rapidly
as   the   method   of   distribution   in   effect   at   the   time   of   the

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                                       17
<PAGE>
participant's death. However, if the required minimum distribution is calculated
each year based on  the participant's single life  expectancy or the joint  life
expectancies  of  the  participant  and beneficiary,  the  regulations  for Code
Section 401(a)(9) provide  specific rules for  calculating the required  minimum
distributions  at the participant's death. For  example, if ECO was elected with
the calculation based on the participant's single life expectancy, and the  life
expectancy  is recalculated each year,  the recalculated life expectancy becomes
zero in  the calendar  year following  the participant's  death and  the  entire
remaining  interest must be distributed to the beneficiary by December 31 of the
year following the  participant's death. However,  a spousal beneficiary,  other
than  under a Section  457 Plan, has  certain rollover rights  which can only be
exercised in the year of the participant's death. The rules are complex and  the
participant  should  consult  a  tax  adviser  before  electing  the  method  of
calculation to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements.

    If the  participant dies  before  the required  beginning date  for  minimum
distributions,  the entire  interest must be  distributed by December  31 of the
calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the date of the  participant's
death.  Alternatively, payments may be made over  the life of the beneficiary or
over a period not extending beyond  the life expectancy of the beneficiary,  not
to  exceed 15  years for  a non-spousal  beneficiary under  a Section  457 Plan,
provided the distribution begins to a  non-spouse beneficiary by December 31  of
the  calendar year  following the calendar  year of the  participant's death. If
payments are made  to a  spousal beneficiary,  distributions must  begin by  the
later  of December 31  of the calendar  year following the  calendar year of the
death or December 31 of  the calendar year in  which the participant would  have
attained age 70 1/2.

    An   exception  applies  for  a  spousal  beneficiary  under  an  Individual
Retirement Annuity.  In lieu  of  taking a  distribution  under these  rules,  a
spousal  Beneficiary may elect  to treat the Account  as his or  her own IRA and
defer taking a distribution until his or her age 70 1/2. The surviving spouse is
deemed to have made such an election if the surviving spouse makes a rollover to
or from the Account  or fails to  take a distribution  within the required  time
period.

    If  the  participant  or  beneficiary fails  to  take  the  required minimum
distribution for any  tax year,  a 50%  excise tax  is imposed  on the  required
amount that was not distributed.

TAXATION OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS

    IN  GENERAL:   Section  72  of the  Code  governs taxation  of  annuities in
general. The Company  believes that  a Certificate Holder  under a  Nonqualified
Contract  who is  a natural person  generally is  not taxed on  increases in the
Account Value  until distribution  occurs by  withdrawing all  or part  of  such
Account  Value (e.g., withdrawals  or Annuity Payments  under the Annuity Option
elected). The taxable portion  of a distribution  (in the form  of a single  sum
payment or an Annuity) is taxable as ordinary income.

    NON-NATURAL HOLDERS OF A NONQUALIFIED CONTRACT: If the Certificate Holder is
not  a natural person, a Nonqualified Contract  is not treated as an annuity for
income tax purposes and  the "income on  the contract" for  the taxable year  is
currently  taxable as ordinary income. "Income  on the contract" is any increase
over  the  year  in  the  Surrender  Value,  adjusted  for  amounts   previously
distributed and amounts previously included in income. There are some exceptions
to  the rule and a non-natural person  should consult with its tax adviser prior
to purchasing this  Contract. A  non-natural person exempt  from federal  income
taxes  should consult with its tax adviser regarding treatment of "income on the
contract" for purposes of the unrelated business income tax.

    The  following  discussion  generally  applies  to  Qualified  Contracts  or
Nonqualified Contracts owned by a natural person.

    WITHDRAWALS:    In the  case  of a  withdrawal  under a  Qualified Contract,
including withdrawals under SWO or ECO, the amount taxable is generally based on
the ratio of the "investment in the contract" to Account Value. The  "investment
in  the  contract" generally  equals the  amount  of any  nondeductible Purchase
Payments paid  by  or on  behalf  of any  individual  less any  amount  received
previously which was excludable from gross income. For a Qualified Contract, the
"investment in the contract" can be zero. Special tax rules may be available for
certain distributions from a Qualified Contract.

    With  respect  to  Nonqualified  Contracts,  partial  withdrawals, including
withdrawals under SWO,  are generally treated  as taxable income  to the  extent
that   the   Account   Value   immediately   before   the   withdrawal   exceeds

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                                       18
<PAGE>
the "investment in  the contract" at  that time. The  Account Value  immediately
before  a  withdrawal may  have to  be  increased by  any positive  market value
adjustment (MVA) that  results from  such a  withdrawal. There  is, however,  no
definitive  guidance on the proper tax treatment of MVAs in these circumstances,
and a Certificate Holder should contact a competent tax advisor with respect  to
the  potential tax consequences of any MVA that  arises as a result of a partial
withdrawal.

    Full withdrawals of a Nonqualified Contract are treated as taxable income to
the extent that the amount received exceeds the "investment in the contract."

    ANNUITY PAYMENTS:  Although the tax  consequences may vary depending on  the
Annuity  Payment elected under the Contract, in general, only the portion of the
Annuity Payment that represents  the amount by which  the Account Value  exceeds
the  "investment in the  contract" will be  taxed; after the  "investment in the
contract" is recovered, the  full amount of any  additional annuity payments  is
taxable.  For  variable  Annuity  Payments,  the  taxable  portion  is generally
determined by an  equation that  establishes a  specific dollar  amount of  each
payment  that is  not taxed.  The dollar  amount is  determined by  dividing the
"investment in the contract" by the total number of expected periodic  payments.
However,  the  entire  distribution  will  be  taxable  once  the  recipient has
recovered the dollar  amount of  his or her  "investment in  the contract."  For
fixed  annuity  payments, in  general there  is no  tax on  the portion  of each
payment which represents the  same ratio that the  "investment in the  contract"
bears  to the total expected  value of the Annuity Payments  for the term of the
payments; however, the remainder  of each Annuity Payment  is taxable. Once  the
"investment  in the contract" has  been fully recovered, the  full amount of any
additional Annuity Payments is taxable. If Annuity Payments cease as a result of
an Annuitant's death before full recovery  of the "investment in the  contract,"
consult  a  competent tax  advisor  regarding deductibility  of  the unrecovered
amount.

    PENALTY TAX:   In  the case  of a  distribution pursuant  to a  Nonqualified
Contract,  or  a Qualified  Contract  other than  a  Qualified Contract  sold in
conjunction with a Code Section 457 Plan, there may be imposed a federal  income
tax penalty equal to 10% of the amount treated as taxable income.

    In  general, there  is no penalty  tax on distributions  from a Nonqualified
Contract: (1)  made on  or after  the date  on which  the taxpayer  attains  age
59  1/2;  (2) made  as a  result of  the  death of  the Certificate  Holder; (3)
attributable to the taxpayer's total  and permanent disability; (4) received  in
substantially  equal periodic payments (at least annually) over the life or life
expectancy of the taxpayer or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of  the
taxpayer  and a "designated beneficiary;" or (5) allocable to "investment in the
contract" before August 14, 1982.

    If a distribution is made from a Qualified Contract sold in conjunction with
a Section 401(a) Plan or Section 403(b) Plan, the penalty tax will not apply  on
distribution  made  when the  participant (a)  attains age  59 1/2,  (b) becomes
permanently and totally disabled, (c) dies, (d) separates from service with  the
plan  sponsor at  or after  age 55,  (e) rolls  over the  distribution amount to
another plan of the same type in accordance  with the terms of the Code, or  (f)
takes  the  distributions in  substantially  equal periodic  payments  (at least
annually) over his or her  life or life expectancy or  the joint lives or  joint
life  expectancies  of  the  participant  and  plan  beneficiary,  provided  the
participant has separated from service with  the plan sponsor. In addition,  the
penalty  tax  does  not  apply  for  the  amount  of  a  distribution  equal  to
unreimbursed medical  expenses  incurred by  the  participant that  qualify  for
deduction  as specified in the Code. The  Code may impose other penalty taxes in
other circumstances.

    In general, the same  exceptions described in  the preceding paragraph  will
apply  to distributions made from an Individual Retirement Annuity. However, the
exceptions for separation from service under (d) above and unreimbursed  medical
expenses will not apply.

    TAXATION  OF DEATH  BENEFIT PROCEEDS:   Amounts may be  distributed from the
Contract because  of  the  death  of a  Certificate  Holder  or  the  Annuitant.
Generally,  such  amounts  are includible  in  the  income of  the  recipient as
follows: (1) if distributed in a lump sum, they are taxed in the same manner  as
a  full surrender  as described  above, or (2)  if distributed  under an Annuity
Option, they are  taxed in  the same manner  as Annuity  Payments, as  described
above.

    TRANSFERS,  ASSIGNMENTS  OR  EXCHANGES  OF  THE  CONTRACT:    A  transfer of
ownership of  a  Contract, the  designation  of  an Annuitant,  Payee  or  other
Beneficiary  who  is not  also a  Certificate Holder,  the selection  of certain
Annuity Dates,  or  the  exchange  of  a Contract  may  result  in  certain  tax
consequences.  The  assignment, pledge,  or agreement  to  assign or  pledge any
portion   of   the   Account   Value   generally   will   be   treated   as    a

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                                       19
<PAGE>
distribution.  The assignment or  transfer of ownership  of a Qualified Contract
generally is not allowed. Anyone  contemplating any such designation,  transfer,
assignment,  selection, or exchange should contact  a competent tax adviser with
respect to the potential tax effects of such a transaction.

    MULTIPLE CONTRACTS:   All deferred nonqualified  annuity contracts that  are
issued  by the Company (or its affiliates) to the same owner during any calendar
year are treated as one annuity contract for purposes of determining the  amount
includible  in gross income  under Section 72(e)  of the Code.  In addition, the
Treasury Department has specific authority to issue regulations that prevent the
avoidance of Section 72(e) through the  serial purchase of annuity contracts  or
otherwise.  Congress has  also indicated that  the Treasury  Department may have
authority to treat the combination purchase of an immediate annuity contract and
separate deferred  annuity contracts  as  a single  annuity contract  under  its
general  authority to prescribe rules as may  be necessary to enforce the income
tax laws.

CONTRACTS USED WITH CERTAIN RETIREMENT PLANS

QUALIFIED CONTRACTS IN GENERAL

    The Qualified  Contract is  designed  for use  as an  Individual  Retirement
Annuity  or as  a Contract  used in  connection with  certain employer sponsored
retirement plans. The tax rules applicable to participants and beneficiaries  in
Qualified  Contracts  are  complex.  Special  favorable  tax  treatment  may  be
available for  certain types  of contributions  and distributions.  Adverse  tax
consequences  may  result  from  contributions in  excess  of  specified limits;
distributions prior to age 59 1/2 (subject to certain exceptions); distributions
that do not conform  to specified commencement  and minimum distribution  rules;
aggregate  distributions in  excess of a  specified annual amount;  and in other
specified circumstances.

    The Company makes no attempt to provide more than general information  about
use  of the Contracts  with the various types  of retirement plans. Participants
and beneficiaries under  Qualified Contracts  may be  subject to  the terms  and
conditions  of the  retirement plans  themselves, in  addition to  the terms and
conditions of the Contract issued in connection with such plans. Some retirement
plans  are  subject  to  distribution  and  other  requirements  that  are   not
incorporated  in the provisions of the Contracts. Purchasers are responsible for
determining  that  contributions,  distributions  and  other  transactions  with
respect to the Contracts satisfy applicable laws, and should consult their legal
counsel and tax adviser regarding the suitability of the Contract.

SECTION 457 PLANS

    Code  Section 457  provides for  certain deferred  compensation plans. These
plans may  be offered  with  respect to  service  for state  governments,  local
governments,  political  subdivisions, agencies,  instrumentalities  and certain
affiliates of  such entities,  and  tax exempt  organizations. These  plans  are
subject  to various restrictions  on contributions and  distributions. The plans
may permit participants  to specify the  form of investment  for their  deferred
compensation  account. In general,  all investments are  owned by the sponsoring
employer and are subject to the claims of the general creditors of the employer.
Depending on the terms of the particular  plan, the employer may be entitled  to
draw  on  deferred  amounts  for  purposes unrelated  to  its  Section  457 plan
obligations. In  general, all  amounts received  under a  Section 457  plan  are
taxable  and reportable to the  IRS as taxable income.  Also, all amounts except
death benefit proceeds are subject to  federal income tax withholding as  wages.
If  we make  payments directly  to a  participant on  behalf of  the employer as
owner, we will withhold federal taxes (and state taxes, if applicable).

    The Code imposes a  maximum limit on annual  Purchase Payments which may  be
excluded from the participant's gross income. Such limit is generally the lesser
of  $7,500 or 33 1/3% of the participant's includible compensation (25% of gross
compensation).

SECTION 401(A) PLANS

    Section 401(a) permits  corporate employers  to establish  various types  of
retirement  plans  for  employees,  and  permits  self-employed  individuals  to
establish various  types  of  retirement  plans for  themselves  and  for  their
employees.  These retirement  plans may permit  the purchase of  the Contract to
accumulate retirement savings under the  plans. Adverse tax consequences to  the
plan,  to the participant or to both may  result if this Contract is assigned or
transferred to  an individual  except to  a participant  as a  means to  provide
benefit payments.

    The  Code imposes a  maximum limit on  annual Purchase Payments  that may be
excluded from a participant's gross income. Such limit must be calculated  under
the  Plan by the employer in accordance with Section 415 of the Code. This limit
is generally the lesser

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                                       20
<PAGE>
of 25%  of the  participant's  compensation or  $30,000. In  addition,  Purchase
Payments  will be excluded from a participant's gross income only if the Section
401(a) Plan meets certain nondiscrimination requirements.

    All distributions will be taxed as they are received unless the distribution
is rolled over to another plan of  the same type or to an individual  retirement
annuity/account  ("IRA") in accordance with the  Code, or unless the participant
has made  after-tax  contributions  to  the  plan,  which  are  not  taxed  upon
distribution.  The Code has specific rules that  apply, depending on the type of
distribution received, if after-tax contributions were made.

    In general, payments received by a beneficiary after the participant's death
are taxed in the same manner as if the participant had received those  payments,
except that a limited death benefit exclusion may apply.

SECTION 403(B) PLANS

    Under  Section  403(b),  contributions  made  by  public  school  systems or
nonprofit healthcare  organizations  and  other  Section  501(c)(3)  tax  exempt
organizations  to purchase annuity  contracts for their  employees are generally
excludable from the gross income of the employee.

    In order to be  excludable from taxable  income, total annual  contributions
made  by the  participant and his  or her  employer cannot exceed  either of two
limits set by the  Code. The first  limit, under Section  415, is generally  the
lesser  of 25% of includible compensation or $30,000. The second limit, which is
the exclusion allowance under Section 403(b), is usually calculated according to
a formula that takes into account the participant's length of employment and any
pretax contributions to certain other  retirement plans. These two limits  apply
to  the participant's contributions as well as  to any contributions made by the
employer on  behalf  of the  participant.  There  is an  additional  limit  that
specifically  limits salary  reduction contributions  to generally  no more than
$9,500 annually (subject to indexing); a  participant's own limit may be  higher
or  lower, depending on certain conditions.  In addition, Purchase Payments will
be excluded from  a participant's gross  income only if  the Plan meets  certain
nondiscrimination requirements.

    Section 403(b)(11) restricts the distribution under Section 403(b) contracts
of:  (1)  salary  reduction  contributions made  after  December  31,  1988; (2)
earnings on those contributions; and (3) earnings during such period on  amounts
held  as of December 31, 1988. Distribution of those amounts may only occur upon
death of the  participant, attainment of  age 59 1/2,  separation from  service,
total  and  permanent disability,  or  financial hardship.  In  addition, income
attributable to salary  reduction contributions  may not be  distributed in  the
case of hardship.

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES AND SIMPLIFIED EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS

    Section  408 of  the Code permits  eligible individuals to  contribute to an
individual  retirement  program  known  as  an  Individual  Retirement  Annuity,
hereinafter  referred to  as an  "IRA." Also,  distributions from  certain other
types of qualified plans may  be "rolled over" on  a tax-deferred basis into  an
IRA.  Employers  may  establish  Simplified  Employee  Pension  (SEP)  Plans and
contribute to an IRA owned by  the employee. Purchasers of a Qualified  Contract
for use with IRAs will be provided with supplemental information required by the
Internal  Revenue Service.  Purchasers should  seek competent  advice as  to the
suitability of the Contract for use with IRAs.

WITHHOLDING

    Pension and annuity distributions generally  are subject to withholding  for
the recipient's federal income tax liability at rates that vary according to the
type  of distribution and the recipient's tax status. Recipients may be provided
the opportunity to elect not to  have tax withheld from distributions;  however,
certain  distributions from Section 401(a) Plans and Section 403(b) tax-deferred
annuities are subject to mandatory 20%  federal income tax withholding. We  will
report to the IRS the taxable portion of all distributions.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS
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DISTRIBUTION

    The  Company will serve as the Principal Underwriter for the securities sold
by this  Prospectus. The  Company  is registered  as  a broker-dealer  with  the
Securities  and Exchange Commission and is  a member of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.  (NASD). As Underwriter,  the Company will  contract
with  one or more  registered broker-deals ("Distributors"),  including at least

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       21
<PAGE>
one affiliate  of the  Company, to  offer and  sell the  Contracts. All  persons
offering  and selling  the Contracts must  be registered  representatives of the
Distributors and must  also be  licensed as  insurance agents  to sell  variable
annuity contracts.

    [The  Company may also contract  with independent third party broker-dealers
who will act as wholesalers by  assisting the Company in finding  broker-dealers
interested in acting as Distributors for the Company. These wholesalers may also
provide  training, marketing and  other sales related  functions for the Company
and the  Distributors and  may provide  certain administrative  services to  the
Company  in connection with the Contracts.  The Company may pay such wholesalers
compensation based  on Purchase  Payments for  the Contracts  purchased  through
Distributors selected by the wholesaler.

    The  Company  may  also  designate  third  parties  to  provide  services in
connection with the  Contracts such as  reviewing applications for  completeness
and  compliance with insurance requirements  and providing the Distributors with
approved marketing material, prospectuses or other supplies. These parties  will
also  receive payments  based on  Purchase Payments  for their  services, to the
extent such payments are  allowed by applicable securities  laws. All costs  and
expenses related to these services will be paid by the Company.]

    [Federated  Securities Corp.  ("FSC"), an  affiliate of  the adviser  to the
Funds in the Federated Insurance Series, may enter into agreements with some  of
the Distributors to provide services to customers in connection with these Funds
acquired  through the Contracts. These services will include providing customers
with information concerning the Funds, their investment objectives, policies and
limitations; portfolio securities; performance, responding to customer inquiries
and providing such other services as the parties may agree. Fees paid by FSC  to
Distributors  for these services may  be based on the  total number of assets in
the Funds attributable to the Distributor's customers.]

    PAYMENT  OF  COMMISSIONS.    [We  pay  Distributors  and  their   registered
representatives  who sell the Contracts commissions and service fees. In limited
circumstances,  we  also  pay  certain  of  these  professionals   compensation,
overrides  or reimbursement for expenses associated with the distribution of the
Contract. In  total,  the  compensation amounts  are  considered  equivalent  to
approximately  7.5% of the  Purchase Payments credited to  the Contract over the
Contract's estimated life.

    We pay these commissions, fees and related distribution expenses out of  any
deferred  sales  charges  assessed  or  out  of  our  general  assets, including
investment income and any profit from investment advisory fees and mortality and
expense risk  charges.  No additional  deductions  or charges  are  imposed  for
commissions and related expenses.]

    [Commissions  will  be  paid  to  broker-dealers  who  sell  the  Contracts.
Broker-dealers will be paid commissions, up to an amount currently equal to 6.5%
of Purchase Payments  for promotional or  distribution expenses associated  with
the marketing of the Contracts.]

DELAY OR SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS

    The  Company reserves the right  to suspend or postpone  the date of payment
for any benefit or values (a) on any Valuation Date on which the New York  Stock
Exchange  ("Exchange")  is  closed  (other than  customary  weekend  and holiday
closings) or when trading on the  Exchange is restricted; (b) when an  emergency
exists,  as determined by  the SEC, so  that disposal of  securities held in the
Subaccounts is not reasonably practicable  or is not reasonably practicable  for
the  value of the Subaccount's  assets; or (c) during  such other periods as the
SEC may by order  permit for the protection  of investors. The conditions  under
which restricted trading or an emergency exists shall be determined by the rules
and regulations of the SEC.

PERFORMANCE REPORTING

    From  time to time, the Company  may advertise different types of historical
performance for  the  Subaccounts  of  the Separate  Account.  The  Company  may
advertise  the "standardized average  annual total returns"  of the Subaccounts,
calculated in a manner prescribed by  the SEC, as well as the  "non-standardized
returns."  "Standardized average annual total returns" are computed according to
a formula  in  which a  hypothetical  investment of  $1,000  is applied  to  the
Subaccount and then related to the ending redeemable values over the most recent
one,  five and ten-year  periods (or since  inception, if less  than ten years).
Standardized returns will reflect the reduction of all recurring charges  during
each  period (e.g., mortality and expense risk charges, annual maintenance fees,
administrative charge  (if  any)  and any  applicable  deferred  sales  charge).
"Non-standardized  returns" will be calculated in  a similar manner, except that
non-standardized figures  will  not  reflect the  deduction  of  any  applicable
deferred  sales charge (which  would decrease the level  of performance shown if
reflected in

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       22
<PAGE>
these calculations).  The non-standardized  figures  may also  include  monthly,
quarterly, year-to-date and three-year periods.

    The   Company  may  also  advertise   certain  ratings,  rankings  or  other
information related  to  the Company,  the  Subaccounts or  the  Funds.  Further
details  regarding performance  reporting and  advertising are  described in the
Statement of Additional Information.

VOTING RIGHTS

    Each Contract Holder may direct us in the voting of shares at  shareholders'
meetings of the appropriate Funds(s). The number of votes to which each Contract
Holder  may give direction will be determined  as of the record date. The number
of votes each Contract Holder is entitled to direct with respect to a particular
Fund during the Accumulation Period equals the portion of the Account  Values(s)
of the Contract attributable to that Fund, divided by the net asset value of one
share  of that Fund. During the Annuity Period,  the number of votes is equal to
the valuation reserve for the portion of the Contract attributable to that Fund,
divided by the net  asset value of  one share of that  Fund. In determining  the
number  of votes, fractional  votes will be  recognized. Where the  value of the
Contract or valuation reserve relates to more than one Fund, the calculation  of
votes will be performed separately for each Fund.

    If  you are a  Certificate Holder under  a group Contract,  you have a fully
vested (100%)  interest in  the benefits  provided to  you under  your  Account.
Therefore,  you may instruct the group Contract Holder how to direct the Company
to cast the votes for the portion or the value of valuation reserve attributable
to your Account.  Votes attributable  to those  Certificate Holders  who do  not
instruct  the group  Contract Holder  will be  cast by  the Company  in the same
proportion as  votes for  which instructions  have been  received by  the  group
Contract  Holder. Votes attributable to individual or group Contract Holders who
do not direct us will be  cast by us in the  same proportion as votes for  which
directions we have received.

    You will receive a notice of each meeting of shareholders, together with any
proxy   solicitation  materials,  and  a  statement   of  the  number  of  votes
attributable to your Account.

MODIFICATION OF THE CONTRACT

    The Company may change the Contract as required by federal or state law.  In
addition,  the Company may, upon 30 days  written notice to the Contract Holder,
make other changes to group Contracts  that would apply only to individuals  who
become  Certificate Holders under that Contract after the effective date of such
changes. If the Contract Holder does not  agree to a change, no new  Certificate
Holders  will be  covered under the  Contract. Certain changes  will require the
approval of appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities.

TRANSFERS OF OWNERSHIP; ASSIGNMENT

    Assignments or transfers of ownership of a Qualified Contract generally  are
not  allowed except  as permitted  under the  Code, incident  to a  divorce. The
prohibition does not apply to a Qualified Contract sold in conjunction with  (1)
a Section 457 deferred compensation plan, or (2) a Section 401(a) plan where the
Contract  is owned  by a  trustee. We  will accept  assignments or  transfers of
ownership of a Nonqualified Contract  or a Qualified Contract where  assignments
or transfers of ownership are not prohibited, with proper notification. The date
of  any such transfer will  be the date we receive  the notification at our Home
Office. (Refer  to  "Tax  Status"  for general  tax  information.)  If  you  are
contemplating  a transfer  of ownership or  assignment you should  consult a tax
adviser due to the potential for tax liability.

    No assignment of a Contract will be binding on us unless made in writing and
sent to us at  our Home Office.  The Company will  use reasonable procedures  to
confirm  that the assignment is  authentic, including verification of signature.
If the Company fails to follow its procedures, it would be liable for any losses
to you directly resulting  from the failure. Otherwise,  we are not  responsible
for the validity of any assignment. The rights of the Certificate Holder and the
interest  of the Annuitant and any Beneficiary  will be subject to the rights of
any assignee of record.

INVOLUNTARY TERMINATIONS

    We reserve the right to terminate any Account with a value of $2,500 or less
immediately following a  partial withdrawal. However,  an Individual  Retirement
Annuity may only be closed out when Purchase Payments have not been received for
a 24-month period and the paid-up annuity benefit at maturity would be less than
$20  per month. If  such right is exercised,  you will be  given 90 days advance
written notice.  No  deferred sales  charge  will be  deducted  for  involuntary
terminations.  The Company does not intend to exercise this right in cases where
the Account  Value  is  reduced to  $2,500  or  less solely  due  to  investment
performance.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       23
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS AND PROCEEDINGS

    The  Company knows  of no  material legal  proceedings pending  to which the
Separate Account or the Company is a party or which would materially affect  the
Separate  Account. The validity of the securities offered by this Prospectus has
been passed upon by Susan E. Bryant, Esq., Counsel to the Company.

                                CONTENTS OF THE
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Statement of Additional  Information contains more specific  information
on the Separate Account and the Contract, as well as the financial statements of
the  Separate Account and the Company. A list  of the contents of the SAI is set
forth below:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                  <C>
General Information and History
Variable Annuity Account B
Offering and Purchase of Contracts
Performance Data
    General
    Average Annual Total Return Quotations
Annuity Payments
Sales Material and Advertising
Independent Auditors
Financial Statements of the Separate Account
Financial Statements of the Company
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       24
<PAGE>
                                   APPENDIX I
                            ALIAC GUARANTEED ACCOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE ALIAC GUARANTEED ACCOUNT (THE  "GUARANTEED ACCOUNT") IS A CREDITED  INTEREST
OPTION  AVAILABLE  DURING  THE  ACCUMULATION PERIOD  UNDER  THE  CONTRACTS. THIS
APPENDIX IS A SUMMARY OF THE GUARANTEED  ACCOUNT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO  REPLACE
THE  GUARANTEED ACCOUNT PROSPECTUS. YOU  SHOULD READ THE ACCOMPANYING GUARANTEED
ACCOUNT PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING.

    The Guaranteed Account is a credited  interest option in which we  guarantee
stipulated  rates of interest for stated periods  of time on amounts directed to
the Guaranteed Account. For guaranteed terms  of one year or less, a  guaranteed
rate  is credited for  the full term.  For guaranteed rates  of greater than one
year, the initial guaranteed rate  is credited from the  date of deposit to  the
end  of  a  specified  period  within the  guaranteed  term.  The  interest rate
stipulated is an  annual effective  yield; that is,  it reflects  a full  year's
interest.  Interest is credited daily at a rate that will provide the guaranteed
annual effective yield  for one year.  Guaranteed interest rates  will never  be
less than an annual effective rate of 3%.

    During  a deposit  period, amounts  may be applied  to any  of the available
guaranteed terms. Purchase Payments received  after the initial payment will  be
allocated  in the same proportions as the  last allocation, if no new allocation
instructions are  received with  the Purchase  Payment. If  the same  guaranteed
term(s)  are not available, the  next shortest term will  be used. If no shorter
guaranteed term is available, the next longer guaranteed term will be used.

    Except for transfers from  the one-year Guaranteed  Term in connection  with
the  Dollar Cost Averaging  Program and withdrawals taken  in connection with an
Estate Conservation or  Systematic Withdrawal distribution  option (where  state
regulatory  approval  has  been  received),  withdrawals  or  transfers  from  a
guaranteed term before the  guaranteed term matures may  be subject to a  market
value  adjustment  ("MVA"). An  MVA  reflects the  change  in the  value  of the
investment due to  changes in  interest rates since  the date  of deposit.  When
interest  rates increase after the date of  deposit, the value of the investment
decreases, and the  MVA is  negative. Conversely, when  interest rates  decrease
after the date of deposit, the value of the investment increases, and the MVA is
positive.  It is possible  that a negative  MVA could result  in the Certificate
Holder receiving  an  amount  which  is  less than  the  amount  paid  into  the
Guaranteed Account

    For  partial  withdrawals  during  the Accumulation  Period,  amounts  to be
withdrawn from the Guaranteed Account will be withdrawn on a pro rata basis from
each group of deposits having  the same length of  time until the Maturity  Date
("Guaranteed  Term Group"). Within  a Guaranteed Term Group,  the amount will be
withdrawn first from the oldest Deposit  Period, then from the next oldest,  and
so on until the amount requested is satisfied.

    As  a  Guaranteed Term  matures,  assets accumulating  under  the Guaranteed
Account may be  (a) transferred  to a new  Guaranteed Term,  (b) transferred  to
other  available investment options, or (c)  withdrawn. Amounts withdrawn may be
subject to a deferred sales charge. If  no direction is received by the  Company
at  its Home Office by  the maturity date of a  guaranteed term, the amount from
the maturing guaranteed term will be  transferred to the current deposit  period
for  a similar length guaranteed term. If  the same guaranteed term is no longer
available the next  shortest guaranteed  term available in  the current  deposit
period will be used. If no shorter guaranteed term is available, the next longer
guaranteed term will be used.

    If  you  do not  provide  instructions concerning  the  maturity value  of a
maturing guaranteed term,  the maturity value  transfer provision applies.  This
provision allows you to transfer without an MVA to available guaranteed terms of
the  current  deposit  period  or  to  other  available  investment  options, or
surrender without an MVA (if applicable, a deferred sales charge is assessed  on
the  surrendered amount).  The provision is  available only  during the calendar
month immediately following a guaranteed term maturity date and only applies  to
the first transaction regardless of the amount involved in the transaction.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       25
<PAGE>
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGES

    We  make no  deductions from  the credited  interest rate  for mortality and
expense risks; these risks are considered in determining the credited rate.

TRANSFERS

    Amounts applied to  a guaranteed  term during a  deposit period  may not  be
transferred  to any  other funding option  or to another  guaranteed term during
that deposit period or for 90 days after the close of that deposit period.  This
does  not apply  to (1) amounts  transferred on  the Maturity Date  or under the
maturity value transfer provision; (2)  amounts transferred from the  Guaranteed
Account  before the Maturity Date due to  the election of an Annuity Option, (3)
amounts transferred from  the one-year  Guaranteed Term in  connection with  the
Dollar  Cost Averaging  Program; and  (4) amounts  distributed under  the Estate
Conservation or Systematic Withdrawal  distribution. Transfers after the  90-day
period  are  permitted  from  guaranteed  term(s)  to  other  guaranteed term(s)
available during  a deposit  period or  to other  available investment  options.
Except  for  transactions described  in items  (1), (3)  and (4)  above, amounts
withdrawn or transferred from the Guaranteed Account prior to the maturity  date
will be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. However, only a positive aggregate
MVA  will be  applied to transfers  made due  to annuitization under  one of the
lifetime Annuity Options described in item (2) above. These waivers are  subject
to  regulatory  approval  and may  not  be  available in  all  states.  See your
representative to determine whether the waiver is approved in your state.

    The Certificate  Holder may  select  a maximum  of 18  different  investment
options  during  the Accumulation  Period.  Under the  Guaranteed  Account, each
guaranteed term is counted as one funding option. If a guaranteed term  matures,
and  is renewed for the same term, it will not count as an additional investment
option.

    Transfers of the Guaranteed Account values  on or within one calendar  month
of  a term's maturity  date are not counted  as one of the  12 free transfers of
accumulated values in the Account.

    By notifying us at least 30 days prior to the Annuity Date, you may elect  a
variable  annuity  and  have  amounts  that  have  been  accumulating  under the
Guaranteed Account  transferred to  one  or more  of the  Subaccounts  available
during  the  Annuity  Period.  The  Guaranteed  Account  cannot  be  used  as an
investment option during the Annuity Period. Transfers made due to the  election
of a lifetime Annuity Option will be subject to only a positive aggregate MVA.

DEATH BENEFIT

    Full  and partial withdrawals and transfers made from the Guaranteed Account
within six months after the  date of the Annuitant's  death will be the  greater
of:

(1) the aggregate MVA amount (i.e., the sum of all market value adjusted amounts
    calculated due to a withdrawal of amounts) which may be greater or less than
    the Account Value of those amounts; or

(2) the  applicable portion of the Account  Value attributable to the Guaranteed
    Account.

    After the  six-month  period,  the  surrender or  transfer  amount  will  be
adjusted  for the aggregate  MVA amount, which  may be greater  or less than the
Account Value of those amounts.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       26
<PAGE>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B
                                    OF
                  AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

         STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED MAY 1, 1996

                                Marathon Plus
                            New York Growth Plus

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should
be read in conjunction with the current prospectus for Variable Annuity
Account B (the "Separate Account") dated May 1, 1996.

A free prospectus is available upon request from the local Aetna Life
Insurance and Annuity Company office or by writing to or calling:

                  Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
                              Customer Service
                            151 Farmington Avenue
                         Hartford, Connecticut 06156
                               1-800-531-4547


Read the prospectus before you invest. Terms used in this Statement of
Additional Information shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        Page


General Information and History......................................... 1
Variable Annuity Account B.............................................. 1
Offering and Purchase of Contracts...................................... 2
Performance Data........................................................ 2
    General............................................................. 2
    Average Annual Total Return Quotations.............................. 3
Annuity Payments........................................................ 6
Sales Material and Advertising.......................................... 7
Independent Auditors.................................................... 8
Financial Statements of the Separate Account............................ S-1
Financial Statements of the Company..................................... F-1


<PAGE>

                         GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY

Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company (the "Company") is a stock life
insurance company which was organized under the insurance laws of the State
of Connecticut in 1976. Through a merger, it succeeded to the business of
Aetna Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company (formerly Participating Annuity
Life Insurance Company organized in 1954). As of December 31, 1995, the
Company managed over $___ billion of assets, and as of December 31, 1994,
it ranked among the top 2% of all U.S. life insurance companies by size. The
Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Retirement Services, Inc.,
which is in turn a wholly owned subsidiary of Aetna Life and Casualty
Company. The Company is engaged in the business of issuing life insurance
policies and annuity contracts in all states of the United States. The
Company's Home Office is located at 151 Farmington Avenue, Hartford,
Connecticut 06156.

In addition to serving as the principal underwriter and the depositor for the
Separate Account, the Company is also a registered investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and a registered broker-dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company provides investment advice to
several of the registered management investment companies offered as variable
investment options under the Contracts funded by the Separate Account (see
"Variable Annuity Account B" below).

Other than the mortality and expense risk charges and administrative charge
described in the prospectus, all expenses incurred in the operations of the
Separate Account are borne by the Company. See "Charges and Deductions" in
the prospectus. The Company receives reimbursement for certain administrative
costs from some unaffiliated sponsors of the Funds used as funding options
under the Contract. These fees generally range up to 0.25%.

The assets of the Separate Account are held by the Company. The Separate
Account has no custodian. However, the Funds in whose shares the assets of
the Separate Account are invested each have custodians, as discussed in their
respective prospectuses.

                           VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B

Variable Annuity Account B (the "Separate Account") is a separate account
established by the Company for the purpose of funding variable annuity
contracts issued by the Company. The Separate Account is registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The assets of each of the
Subaccounts of the Separate Account will be invested exclusively in shares of
the mutual funds described in the Prospectus. Purchase Payments made under
the Contract may be allocated to one or more of the Subaccounts. The Company
may make additions to or deletions from available investment options as
permitted by law. The availability of the Funds is subject to applicable
regulatory authorization. Not all Funds are available in all jurisdictions or
under all Contracts. The Funds currently available under the Contract are as
follows:

                                      1

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>                                               <C>
Aetna Variable Fund                               Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio
Aetna Income Shares                               Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio
Aetna Variable Encore Fund                        Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio
Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.              Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio
Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio                   Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio
Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio               Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio                   Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio
Alger American Balanced Portfolio                 Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
Alger American Growth Portfolio                   Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio
Alger American Income and Growth Portfolio        Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio
Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio         Janus Aspen Flexible Income Portfolio
Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio            Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio
Alger American Small Cap Portfolio                Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio
Federated American Leaders Fund II                Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio
Federated Fund for U.S. Government Securities II  Lexington Emerging Markets Fund
Federated Growth Strategies Fund II               Lexington Natural Resources Trust
Federated High Income Fund II                     TCI Balanced
Federated International Equity Fund II            TCI Growth
Federated Prime Money Fund II                     TCI International
Federated Utility Fund II
</TABLE>

Complete descriptions of each of the Funds, including their investment
objectives, policies, risks and fees and expenses, are contained in the
prospectuses and statements of additional information for each of the Funds.

                      OFFERING AND PURCHASE OF CONTRACTS

The Company is both the Depositor and the principal underwriter for the
securities sold by the prospectus. The Company offers the Contracts through
life insurance agents licensed to sell variable annuities who are registered
representatives of the Company or of other registered broker-dealers who have
sales agreements with the Company. The offering of the Contracts is
continuous. A description of the manner in which Contracts are purchased may
be found in the prospectus under the sections titled "Purchase" and
"Contract Valuation."

                                PERFORMANCE DATA

GENERAL

From time to time, the Company may advertise different types of historical
performance for the Subaccounts of the Separate Account available under the
Contracts. The Company may advertise the "standardized average annual total
returns," calculated in a manner prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "standardized return"), as well as "non-standardized
returns," both of which are described below.

The standardized and non-standardized total return figures are computed
according to a formula in which a hypothetical initial Purchase Payment of
$1,000 is applied to the various Subaccounts under the

                                       2

<PAGE>

Contract, and then related to the ending redeemable values over one, three,
five and ten year periods (or fractional periods thereof). The standardized
figures reflect the deduction of all recurring charges during each period
(e.g., mortality and expense risk charges, maintenance fees, administrative
charges, and deferred sales charges). These charges will be deducted on a pro
rata basis in the case of fractional periods. The maintenance fee is
converted to a percentage of assets based on the average account size under
the Contracts described in the Prospectus.

The non-standardized figures will be calculated in a similar manner, except
that they will not reflect the deduction of any applicable deferred sales
charge (which would decrease the level of performance shown if reflected in
these calculations). The non-standardized figures may also include monthly,
quarterly, year-to-date and three-year periods.

If a Fund was in existence prior to the date it became available under the
Contract, standardized and non-standardized total returns may include periods
prior to the date on which such Fund became available under the Contract.
These figures are calculated by adjusting the actual returns of the Fund to
reflect the charges that would have been assessed under the Contract had that
Fund been available under the Contract during that period.

Investment results of the Funds will fluctuate over time, and any
presentation of the Subaccounts' total return quotations for any prior period
should not be considered as a representation of how the Subaccounts will
perform in any future period. Additionally, the Account Value upon redemption
may be more or less than your original cost.

AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN QUOTATIONS - STANDARDIZED AND NON-STANDARDIZED

The tables shown below reflect the average annual standardized and
non-standardized total return quotation figures for the periods ended
December 31, 1995 for the Subaccounts available under the Contract. Table
A reflects the total return quotations for Contracts issued nationwide (other
than Contracts or Certificates issued in New York). Table B reflects the
total return quotations for Marathon Plus and Growth Plus Contracts or
Certificates issued in the state of New York. For those Subaccounts where
results are not available for the full calendar period indicated, the
percentage shown is an average annual return since inception (denoted with an
asterisk).

                                                            TABLE A

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           FUND
                ($30 MAINTENANCE FEE)                          STANDARDIZED                  NON-STANDARDIZED           INCEPTION
                                                                                                                           DATE
                      SUBACCOUNT                         1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
Aetna Variable Fund                                                                                                      04/30/75

Aetna Income Shares                                                                                                      06/01/78

Aetna Variable Encore Fund                                                                                               09/01/75

Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.                                                                                     06/23/89

Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio                                                                                          07/03/95

Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio                                                                                      07/03/95

Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio                                                                                          07/03/95
</TABLE>

                                      3

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           FUND
                ($30 MAINTENANCE FEE)                          STANDARDIZED                  NON-STANDARDIZED           INCEPTION
                                                                                                                           DATE
                      SUBACCOUNT                         1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
Alger American Balanced Portfolio                                                                                        09/05/89

Alger American Growth Portfolio                                                                                          01/08/89

Alger American Income and Growth Portfolio                                                                               11/14/88

Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio                                                                                01/25/95

Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio                                                                                   04/30/93

Alger American Small Cap Portfolio                                                                                       09/20/88

Federated American Leaders Fund II                                                                                       02/10/94

Federated Fund for U.S. Government Securities Fund II                                                                    03/28/94

Federated Growth Strategies Fund II                                                                                      11/01/95

Federated High Income Bond Fund II                                                                                       03/01/94

Federated International Equity Fund II                                                                                   04/04/95

Federated Prime Money Fund II                                                                                            11/14/94

Federated Utility Fund II                                                                                                02/10/94

Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio                                                                                     10/22/86

Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio                                                                                            11/07/86

Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio                                                                                       10/11/85

Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio                                                                                          02/13/87

Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio                                                                                  09/06/89

Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio                                                                                     01/03/95

Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio                                                                                      08/27/92

Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio                                                                          12/05/88

Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio                                                                                  09/13/93

Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio                                                                                           09/13/93

Janus Aspen Flexible Income Portfolio                                                                                    09/13/93

Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio                                                                                             09/13/93

Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio                                                                                    09/13/93

Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio                                                                                   09/13/93

Lexington Emerging Markets Fund                                                                                          03/31/94

Lexington Natural Resources Trust                                                                                        05/31/89

TCI Balanced                                                                                                             05/31/94
</TABLE>

                                      4

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           FUND
                ($30 MAINTENANCE FEE)                          STANDARDIZED                  NON-STANDARDIZED           INCEPTION
                                                                                                                           DATE
                      SUBACCOUNT                         1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
TCI Growth                                                                                                               11/20/87

TCI International                                                                                                        05/31/94
</TABLE>


                 CONTRACTS OR CERTIFICATES ISSUED IN NEW YORK
                                    TABLE B

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           FUND
                ($30 MAINTENANCE FEE)                          STANDARDIZED                  NON-STANDARDIZED           INCEPTION
                                                                                                                           DATE
                      SUBACCOUNT                         1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
Aetna Variable Fund                                                                                                      04/30/75

Aetna Income Shares                                                                                                      06/01/78

Aetna Variable Encore Fund                                                                                               09/01/75

Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc.                                                                                     06/23/89

Aetna Ascent Variable Portfolio                                                                                          07/03/95

Aetna Crossroads Variable Portfolio                                                                                      07/03/95

Aetna Legacy Variable Portfolio                                                                                          07/03/95

Alger American Balanced Portfolio                                                                                        09/05/89

Alger American Growth Portfolio                                                                                          01/08/89

Alger American Income and Growth Portfolio                                                                               11/14/88

Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio                                                                                01/25/95

Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio                                                                                   04/30/93

Alger American Small Cap Portfolio                                                                                       09/20/88

Federated American Leaders Fund II                                                                                       02/10/94

Federated Fund for U.S. Government Securities Fund II                                                                    03/28/94

Federated Growth Strategies Fund II                                                                                      11/01/95

Federated High Income Bond Fund II                                                                                       03/01/94

Federated International Equity Fund II                                                                                   04/04/95

Federated Prime Money Fund II                                                                                            11/14/94

Federated Utility Fund II                                                                                                02/10/94

Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio                                                                                     10/22/86

Fidelity VIP Growth Portfolio                                                                                            11/07/86

Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio                                                                                       10/11/85

Fidelity VIP Overseas Portfolio                                                                                          02/13/87
</TABLE>

                                      5

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                           FUND
                ($30 MAINTENANCE FEE)                          STANDARDIZED                  NON-STANDARDIZED           INCEPTION
                                                                                                                           DATE
                      SUBACCOUNT                         1 Year  5 Years  10 Years  1 Year  3 Years  5 Years  10 Years
<S>                                                      <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>
Fidelity VIP II Asset Manager Portfolio                                                                                  09/06/89

Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio                                                                                     01/03/95

Fidelity VIP II Index 500 Portfolio                                                                                      08/27/92

Fidelity VIP II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio                                                                          12/05/88

Janus Aspen Aggressive Growth Portfolio                                                                                  09/13/93

Janus Aspen Balanced Portfolio                                                                                           09/13/93

Janus Aspen Flexible Income Portfolio                                                                                    09/13/93

Janus Aspen Growth Portfolio                                                                                             09/13/93

Janus Aspen Short-Term Bond Portfolio                                                                                    09/13/93

Janus Aspen Worldwide Growth Portfolio                                                                                   09/13/93

Lexington Emerging Markets Fund                                                                                          03/31/94

Lexington Natural Resources Trust                                                                                        05/31/89

TCI Balanced                                                                                                             05/31/94

TCI Growth                                                                                                               11/20/87

TCI International                                                                                                        05/31/94
</TABLE>

                                 ANNUITY PAYMENTS

When Annuity payments are to begin, the value of the Account is determined
using Accumulation Unit values as of the tenth Valuation Period before the
first Annuity payment is due. Such value (less any applicable premium tax) is
applied to provide an Annuity in accordance with the Annuity and investment
options elected.

The Annuity option tables found in the Contract show, for each form of
Annuity, the amount of the first Annuity payment for each $1,000 of value
applied. Thereafter, variable Annuity payments fluctuate as the Annuity Unit
value(s) fluctuates with the investment experience of the selected investment
option(s). The first payment and subsequent payments also vary depending on
the assumed net investment rate selected (3.5% or 5% per annum). Selection of
a 5% rate causes a higher first payment, but Annuity payments will increase
thereafter only to the extent that the net investment rate increases by more
than 5% on an annual basis. Annuity payments would decline if the rate failed
to increase by 5%. Use of the 3.5% assumed rate causes a lower first payment,
but subsequent payments would increase more rapidly or decline more slowly as
changes occur in the net investment rate.

When the Annuity Period begins, the Annuitant is credited with a fixed number
of Annuity Units (which does not change thereafter) in each of the designated
investment options. This number is calculated by dividing (a) by (b),
where (a) is the amount of the first Annuity payment based on a particular
investment option, and (b) is the then current Annuity Unit value for that
investment option. As noted,

                                      6

<PAGE>

Annuity Unit values fluctuate from one Valuation Period to the next; such
fluctuations reflect changes in the net investment factor for the appropriate
Fund(s) (with a ten Valuation Period lag which gives the Company time to
process Annuity payments) and a mathematical adjustment which offsets the
assumed net investment rate of 3.5% or 5% per annum.

The operation of all these factors can be illustrated by the following
hypothetical example. These procedures will be performed separately for the
investment options selected during the Annuity Period.

EXAMPLE:
Assume that, at the date Annuity payments are to begin, there are 3,000
Accumulation Units credited under a particular Account and that the value of
an Accumulation Unit for the tenth Valuation Period prior to retirement was
$13.650000. This produces a total value of $40,950.

Assume also that no premium tax is payable and that the Annuity table in the
Contract provides, for the option elected, a first monthly variable Annuity
payment of $6.68 per $1000 of value applied; the Annuitant's first monthly
payment would thus be 40.950 multiplied by $6.68, or $273.55.

Assume then that the value of an Annuity Unit for the Valuation Period in
which the first payment was due was $13.400000. When this value is divided
into the first monthly payment, the number of Annuity Units is determined to
be 20.414. The value of this number of Annuity Units will be paid in each
subsequent month.

If the net investment factor with respect to the appropriate Fund is
1.0015000 as of the tenth Valuation Period preceding the due date of the
second monthly payment, multiplying this factor by .9999058* (to neutralize
the assumed net investment rate of 3.5% per annum built into the number of
Annuity Units determined above) produces a result of 1.0014057. This is then
multiplied by the Annuity Unit value for the prior Valuation Period (assume
such value to be $13.504376) to produce an Annuity Unit value of $13.523359
for the Valuation Period in which the second payment is due.

The second monthly payment is then determined by multiplying the number of
Annuity Units by the current Annuity Unit value, or 20.414 times $13.523359,
which produces a payment of $276.07.

*If an assumed net investment rate of 5% is elected, the appropriate factor
to neutralize such assumed rate would be .9998663.

                         SALES MATERIAL AND ADVERTISING

The Company may include hypothetical illustrations in its sales literature
that explain the mathematical principles of dollar cost averaging, compounded
interest, tax deferred accumulation, and the mechanics of variable annuity
contracts. The Company may also discuss the difference between variable
annuity contracts and other types of savings or investment products,
including, but not limited to, personal savings accounts and Certificates of
Deposit.

We may distribute sales literature that compares the percentage change in
Accumulation Unit values for any of the Funds to established market indexes
such as the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and the Dow Jones Industrial
Average or to the percentage change in values of other management investment
companies that have investment objectives similar to the Fund being compared.

We may publish in advertisements and reports, the ratings and other
information assigned to us by one or more independent rating organizations
such as A.M. Best Company, Duff & Phelps, Standard & Poor's Corporation and
Moody's Investors Services, Inc. The purpose of the ratings is to reflect our
financial strength and/or claims-paying ability. We may also quote ranking
services such as Morningstar's Variable Annuity/Life Performance Report and
Lipper's Variable Insurance Products Performance Analysis Service (VIPPAS),
which rank variable annuity or life Subaccounts or their underlying funds by
performance and/or investment objective. From time to time, we will quote
articles

                                      7

<PAGE>

from newspapers and magazines or other publications or reports, including,
but not limited to The Wall Street Journal, Money magazine, USA Today and The
VARDS Report.

The Company may provide in advertising, sales literature, periodic
publications or other materials information on various topics of interest to
current and prospective Certificate Holders. These topics may include the
relationship between sectors of the economy and the economy as a whole and
its effect on various securities markets, investment strategies and
techniques (such as value investing, market timing, dollar cost averaging,
asset allocation, constant ratio transfer and account rebalancing), the
advantages and disadvantages of investing in tax-deferred and taxable
investments, customer profiles and hypothetical purchase and investment
scenarios, financial management and tax and retirement planning, and
investment alternatives to certificates of deposit and other financial
instruments, including comparison between the Contracts and the
characteristics of and market for such financial instruments.

                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, CityPlace II, Hartford, Connecticut 06103-4103, are
the independent auditors for the Separate Account and for the Company. The
services provided to the Separate Account include primarily the examination
of the Separate Account's financial statements and the review of filings made
with the SEC.










                                      8


<PAGE>

                            FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


                         VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B

                                    INDEX


Independent Auditors' Report............................................ S-2
Statement of Assets and Liabilities..................................... S-3
Statement of Operations................................................. S-4
Statements of Changes in Net Assets..................................... S-5
Notes to Financial Statements........................................... S-6


                FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
                  AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL BE FILED
                  IN A SUBSEQUENT POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT







                                     S-1


<PAGE>

                    STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION




                         VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B




                         VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS

                                 ISSUED BY

                  AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY






Form No. 34370(S)                                         ALIAC Ed. May 1996



<PAGE>

                            VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B
                            PART C - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 24.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  (a)     Financial Statements:*
     (1)  Included in Part A:
          Condensed Financial Information
     (2)  Included in Part B:
          Financial Statements of Variable Annuity Account B:
          - Independent Auditors' Report
          - Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 1995
          - Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 1995
          - Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December
            31, 1995 and 1994
          - Notes to Financial Statements
          Financial Statements of the Depositor:
          - Independent Auditors' Report
          - Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31,
            1995, 1994 and 1993
          - Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1995 and 1994
          - Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholder's Equity for the
            years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
          - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December
            31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
          - Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  (b)       Exhibits
     (1)    Resolution of the Board of Directors of Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company establishing Variable Annuity Account B(1)
     (2)    Not applicable
     (3.1)  Form of Selling Agreement(2)
     (3.2)  Alternative Form of Wholesaling Agreement and Related Selling
            Agreement(3)

     (3.3)  Form of Federated Broker Dealer Agreement (9/2/94)(4)
     (4.1)  Form of Variable Annuity Contract (G-CDA-IC(NQ), G-CDA-IC(IR), I-
            CDA-IC(NQ/MP) and I-CDA-IC(IR/MP))(2)
     (4.2)  Form of Certificate of Group Annuity Coverage (GMCC-IC(NQ) and
            GMCC-IC(IR))(2)
     (5.1)  Form of Variable Annuity Contract Application (300-MAR-IB and
            710.6.13)(2)
     (6)    Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Depositor(5)
     (7)    Not applicable

<PAGE>

     (8.1)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company, Alger American Fund and Fred Alger Management, Inc.
            dated September 1, 1993(3)
     (8.2)  Fund Participation Agreement by and among Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company, Insurance Management Series and Federated Advisors
            dated December 12, 1994(6)
     (8.3)  Fund Participation Agreements between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company and Fidelity Distributors Corporation dated February
            1, 1994 (Variable Insurance Products Fund)(7)
     (8.4)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company and Fidelity Distributors Corporation dated
            February 1, 1994 (Variable Insurance Products Fund II)(7)
     (8.5)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company and Janus Aspen Series dated April 19, 1994, and
            amended June 15, 1994(8)
     (8.6)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company and Lexington Management Corporation regarding
            Natural Resources Trust dated December 1, 1988 and amended
            February 1991(9)
     (8.7)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company, Lexington Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and
            Lexington Management Corporation (its investment advisor) dated
            April 28, 1994(10)
     (8.9)  Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and
            Annuity Company, Investors Research Corporation and TCI Portfolios,
            Inc. dated July 29, 1992 and amended December 22, 1992 and
            June 1, 1994(10)
     (8.10) Form of Administrative Service Agreement between Aetna Life
            Insurance and Annuity Company and Agency, Inc.(2)
     (9)    Opinion of Counsel*
     (10.1) Consent of Independent Auditors*
     (10.2) Consent of Counsel*
     (11)   Not applicable
     (12)   Not applicable
     (13)   Computation of Performance Data*
     (14)   Financial Data Schedule*
     (15.1) Powers of Attorney(11)
     (15.2) Authorization for Signatures(12)

1.   Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No.
     2-52448) filed February 28, 1986.
2.   Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to
     Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-34370) filed on April 19,
     1994.

<PAGE>

3.   Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75996) filed on April 21, 1994.
4.   Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-79122) as filed electronically on August
     16, 1995.
5.   Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 58 to
     Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 2-52449) filed on February 28,
     1994.
6.   Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-79122) filed on September 15, 1994.
7.   Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75978) filed on April 25, 1994.
8.   Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75960) filed on August 9, 1994.
9.   Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75978) filed on March 24, 1995.
10.  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75978) filed on August 24, 1994.
11.  The Power of Attorney for Timothy A. Holt, Director and Chief Financial
     Officer, is filed herewith. The Powers of Attorney for all other
     signatories are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment
     No. 5 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75982), as filed
     electronically, on February 20, 1996.
12.  Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
     Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-91846) filed on August 16, 1995.

<PAGE>

ITEM 25.  DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE DEPOSITOR

          Name and Principal
          Business Address*        Positions and Offices with Depositor
          -----------------        ------------------------------------

          Daniel P. Kearney        Director and President

          Christopher J. Burns     Director and Senior Vice President

          Laura R. Estes           Director and Senior Vice President

          Timothy A. Holt          Director, Senior Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial Officer

          Gail P. Johnson          Director and Vice President

          John Y. Kim              Director and Senior Vice President

          Shaun P. Mathews         Director and Vice President

          Glen Salow               Director and Vice President

          Creed R. Terry           Director and Vice President

          Zoe   Baird              Senior Vice President and General Counsel

          Susan E. Schechter       Corporate Secretary and Counsel

          Eugene M. Trovato        Vice President and Treasurer,
                                   Corporate Controller

          Diane B. Horn            Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

*  The principal business address of all directors and officers listed is 151
   Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06156.

<PAGE>

ITEM 26.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH THE DEPOSITOR OR
          REGISTRANT

  Incorporated herein by reference to Item 26 of Post-Effective Amendment No.
5 to Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-75982), as filed
electronically, on February 20, 1996.

ITEM 27.  NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS

  As of December 31, 1995, there were 33,702 contract owners of variable
annuity contracts funded through Account B.

ITEM 28.  INDEMNIFICATION

  Reference is hereby made to Section 33-320a of the Connecticut General
Statutes ("C.G.S.") regarding indemnification of directors and officers of
Connecticut corporations.  The statute provides in general that Connecticut
corporations shall indemnify their officers, directors, employees, agents, and
certain other defined individuals against judgments, fines, penalties, amounts
paid in settlement and reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with
proceedings against the corporation.  The corporation's obligation to provide
such indemnification does not apply unless (1) the individual is successful on
the merits in the defense of any such proceeding; or (2) a determination is made
(by a majority of the board of directors not a party to the proceeding by
written consent; by independent legal counsel selected by a majority of the
directors not involved in the proceeding; or by a majority of the shareholders
not involved in the proceeding) that the individual acted in good faith and in
the best interests of the corporation; or (3) the court, upon application by the
individual, determines in view of all the circumstances that such person is
reasonably entitled to be indemnified.

  C.G.S. Section 33-320a provides an exclusive remedy:  a Connecticut
corporation cannot indemnify a director or officer to an extent either greater
or less than that authorized by the statute, e.g., pursuant to its certificate
of incorporation, bylaws, or any separate contractual arrangement.  However, the
statute does specifically authorize a corporation to procure indemnification
insurance to provide greater indemnification rights.  The premiums for such
insurance may be shared with the insured individuals on an agreed basis.

  Consistent with the statute, Aetna Life and Casualty Company has procured
insurance from Lloyd's of London and several major United States excess insurers
for its directors and officers and the directors and officers of its
subsidiaries, including the Depositor, which supplements the indemnification
rights provided by C.G.S. Section 33-320a to the extent such coverage does not
violate public policy.

ITEM 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

  (a)   In addition to serving as the principal underwriter for the Registrant,
        Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company (ALIAC) also acts as the
        principal underwriter for Variable Life Account B and Variable Annuity
        Accounts C and G (separate accounts of ALIAC

<PAGE>

        registered as unit investment trusts), and Variable Annuity Account I (a
        separate account of Aetna Insurance Company of America registered as a
        unit investment trust).  Additionally, ALIAC is the investment adviser
        for Aetna Variable Fund, Aetna Income Shares, Aetna Variable Encore
        Fund, Aetna Investment Advisers Fund, Inc., Aetna GET Fund, Aetna Series
        Fund, Inc. and Aetna Generation Portfolios, Inc.  ALIAC is also the
        depositor of Variable Life Account B, Variable Annuity Account C and
        Variable Annuity Account G.

  (b)   See Item 25 regarding the Depositor.

  (c)   Compensation as of December 31, 1995:

     (1)             (2)              (3)              (4)              (5)

 Name of      Net Underwriting  Compensation on
 Principal    Discounts and     Redemption or      Brokerage
 Underwriter  Commissions       Annuitization      Commissions     Compensation*
 -----------  ----------------  -------------      -----------     -------------

 Aetna Life                       $    **                              $    **
 Insurance
 and Annuity
 Company


* Compensation shown in column 5 includes deductions for mortality and expense
  risk guarantees and contract charges assessed to cover costs incurred in the
  sales and administration of the contracts issued under Account B.

** To be updated by amendment.

ITEM 30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS

  All records concerning contract owners of Variable Annuity Account B are
located at the home office of the Depositor as follows:

            Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company
            151 Farmington Avenue
            Hartford, Connecticut  06156

ITEM 31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES

  Not applicable

<PAGE>

ITEM 32.  UNDERTAKINGS

  Registrant hereby undertakes:

  (a)   to file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement on
        Form N-4 as frequently as is necessary to ensure that the audited
        financial statements in the registration statement are never more than
        sixteen months old for as long as payments under the variable annuity
        contracts may be accepted;

  (b)   to include as part of any application to purchase a contract offered by
        a prospectus which is part of this registration statement on Form N-4, a
        space that an applicant can check to request a Statement of Additional
        Information; and

  (c)   to deliver any Statement of Additional Information and any financial
        statements required to be made available under this Form N-4 promptly
        upon written or oral request.

  (d)   Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities
        Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
        persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
        otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
        Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
        public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
        In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
        (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid
        by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
        successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
        such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
        securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion
        of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
        submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether
        such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
        Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

  As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant, Variable Annuity Account B of Aetna Life
Insurance and Annuity Company, has caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 21
to its Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-34370) to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Hartford, State of Connecticut, on the 27th day of February, 1996.

                            VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B OF AETNA LIFE INSURANCE
                            AND ANNUITY COMPANY
                               (REGISTRANT)

                        By: AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
                               (DEPOSITOR)


                        By: Daniel P. Kearney*
                            Daniel P. Kearney
                            President


  As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 21 to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 33-34370)
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.


 Signature            Title                                   Date
 ---------            -----                                   ----

 Daniel P. Kearney*     Director and President             )
- ----------------------  (principal executive officer)      )
 Daniel P. Kearney                                         )
                                                           )
 Christopher J. Burns*  Director                           )  February
- ----------------------                                     )  27, 1996
 Christopher J. Burns                                      )

<PAGE>

                                                           )
 Laura R. Estes*        Director                           )
- ---------------------                                      )
 Laura R. Estes                                            )
                                                           )
 Timothy A. Holt*       Director and Chief Financial       )
- ---------------------   Officer                            )
 Timothy A. Holt                                           )
                                                           )
 Gail P. Johnson*       Director                           )
- ---------------------                                      )
 Gail P. Johnson                                           )
                                                           )
 John Y. Kim*           Director                           )
- ---------------------                                      )
 John Y. Kim                                               )
                                                           )
 Shaun P. Mathews*      Director                           )
- ---------------------                                      )
 Shaun P. Mathews                                          )
                                                           )
 Glen Salow*            Director                           )
- ---------------------                                      )
 Glen Salow                                                )
                                                           )
 Creed R. Terry*        Director                           )
- ----------------------                                     )
 Creed R. Terry                                            )
                                                           )
 Eugene M. Trovato*     Vice President and Treasurer,      )
- ----------------------  Corporate Controller               )
 Eugene M. Trovato                                         )


 By:       /s/ Julie E. Rockmore
           ---------------------------------------------
          Julie E. Rockmore
          *Attorney-in-Fact

<PAGE>

                           VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT B
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibt No. Exhibit                                                          Page
- ---------- -------                                                          ----

99-B.1     Resolution of the Board of Directors of Aetna Life Insurance and   *
           Annuity Company establishing Variable Annuity Account B

99-B.3.1   Form of Selling Agreement                                          *

99-B.3.2   Alternative Form of Wholesaling Agreement and Related Selling      *
           Agreement

99-B.3.3   Form of Federated Broker Dealer Agreement (9/2/94)                 *

99-B.4.1   Form of Variable Annuity Contracts                                 *

99-B.4.2   Form of Certificate of Group Annuity Coverage                      *

99-B.5     Form of Variable Annuity Contract Applications                     *

99-B.6     Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Depositor              *

99-B.8.1   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and      *
           Annuity Company, Alger American Fund and Fred Alger Management,
           Inc. dated September 1, 1993

99-B.8.2   Fund Participation Agreement by and among Aetna Life Insurance     *
           and Annuity Company, Insurance Management Series and Federated
           Advisors dated December 12, 1994

99-B.8.3   Fund Participation Agreements between Aetna Life Insurance and     *
           Annuity Company and Fidelity Distributors Corporation dated
           February 1, 1994 (Variable Insurance Products Fund)

99-B.8.4   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and      *
           Annuity Company and Fidelity Distributors Corporation dated
           February 1, 1994 (Variable Insurance Products Fund II)

99-B.8.5   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and      *
           Annuity Company and Janus Aspen Series dated April 19, 1994, and
           amended June 15, 1994

*Incorporated by reference

<PAGE>

Exhibt No. Exhibit                                                          Page
- ---------- -------                                                          ----

99-B.8.6   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and    *
           Annuity Company and Lexington Management Corporation regarding
           Natural Resources Trust dated December 1, 1988 and amended
           February 11, 1991

99-B.8.7   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and    *
           Annuity Company, Lexington Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. and
           Lexington Management Corporation (its investment advisor)
           dated April 28, 1994

99-B.8.9   Fund Participation Agreement between Aetna Life Insurance and    *
           Annuity Company, Investors Research Corporation and TCI
           Portfolios, Inc. dated July 29, 1992 and amended December 22,
           1992 and June 1, 1994

99-B.8.10  Form of Administrative Service Agreement between Aetna Life      *
           Insurance and Annuity Company and Agency, Inc.

99-B.9     Opinion of Counsel                                              **

99-B.10.1  Consent of Independent Auditors                                 **

99-B.10.2  Consent of Counsel                                              **

99-B.13    Computation of Performance Data                                 **

99-B15.1   Power of Attorney for Timothy A. Holt

99-B.15.2  Authorization for Signatures                                     *

27         Financial Data Schedule                                         **

*Incorporated by reference
**To be filed by amendment


<PAGE>

                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Timothy A. Holt, Director and Chief Financial Officer of Aetna Life
Insurance and Annuity Company, do hereby constitute and appoint Susan E.
Bryant, Steven J. Lauwers, and Julie E. Rockmore and each of them
individually, my true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each
of them to sign for me, and in my name and in the capacity indicated below,
any and all amendments to the Registration Statements listed below filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission by Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity
Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and/or the Investment
Company Act of 1940, including but not limited to pre-effective amendments
and post-effective amendments to such filings:

Registration Statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended:

2-52448                   33-75960                   33-75996

2-52449                   33-75962                   33-75998

33-02339                  33-75964                   33-76000

33-34370                  33-75966                   33-76002

33-34583                  33-75968                   33-76004

33-42555                  33-75970                   33-76018

33-60477                  33-75972                   33-76024

33-61897                  33-75974                   33-76026

33-62473                  33-75976                   33-79118

33-62481                  33-75978                   33-79122

33-63611                  33-75980                   33-81216

33-63657                  33-75982                   33-87642

33-64277                  33-75984                   33-87932

33-64331                  33-75986                   33-88720

33-75248                  33-75988                   33-88722

33-75954                  33-75990                   33-88724

33-75956                  33-75992                   33-89858

33-75958                  33-75994                   33-91846

Registration Statements filed under the Investment Company Act of 1940:

811-2512            811-2513              811-4536                811-5906

hereby ratifying and confirming on this 26th day of February, 1996 my
signature as it may be signed by my said attorneys to any such registration
statements, applications and any and all amendments thereto:


/s/ Timothy A. Holt
______________________________________________
Timothy A. Holt
Director and Chief Financial Officer





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