NEW ENGLAND VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
497, 1998-01-26
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                             ZENITH FLEXIBLE LIFE

       Supplement dated January 26, 1998 to Prospectus dated May 1, 1997

For Policies purchased through payroll deductions:

     If you elect to pay monthly planned premiums using payroll deductions that
your employer will remit to New England Life Insurance Company ("NELICO") on
your behalf, the following special provisions apply to you:

     1.  Policy Date.  Your employer will begin making payroll deductions six
weeks in advance of your first monthly planned premium payment.  The Policy Date
and the investment start date for your Policy will be the date when NELICO
receives your first monthly planned premium payment.

     2.  Temporary Life Insurance Coverage.  The insured under your Policy will
be covered by temporary life insurance for a limited period under the terms of a
temporary insurance agreement.  Coverage will begin as of the date of the
temporary insurance agreement, which is generally the same date you sign your
application.  (Refer to the temporary insurance agreement for details.)

     3.  Planned Premium Payments.  You will be on a monthly planned premium
schedule that assumes your employer will remit 12 premium payments each year,
regardless of the frequency with which payroll deductions are made.  The amount
of your monthly planned premium payments may vary from month to month, depending
on the amount of payroll deductions accumulated prior to each payment.  Premiums
will be applied to your Policy on the day NELICO receives them.

     4.  Lapse.  Your monthly planned premium schedule is not necessarily
designed to keep your Policy in force.  NELICO will make Monthly Deductions from
the cash value of your Policy on the first day of each Policy month, beginning
with the Policy Date.  (See "Monthly Deduction from Cash Value" for more
information.)  Your Policy will be in default in any month when there is
insufficient net cash value for NELICO to make a Monthly Deduction unless a
Minimum Guaranteed Death Benefit is in effect or your Policy is protected
against lapse during the first three Policy Years by payment of the Minimum
Premium.  (See "Monthly Deduction from Cash Value," "Flexible Premiums" and
"Lapse and Reinstatement" for more information.)  A default will occur if for
any reason there is insufficient net cash value in the Policy to pay a Monthly
Deduction.  A default may result, for example, if you miss a payroll deduction.
The cash value of premiums allocated to the Variable Account is not guaranteed,
and unfavorable investment experience can reduce it to zero.  You will bear the
entire investment risk with respect to cash value in the Variable Account.  If a
default occurs, NELICO will issue
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a pre-lapse notice to inform the Policy Owner of the amount due.  The Policy
provides a 62 day grace period for payment of a premium sufficient to pay the
Monthly Deduction and prevent lapse.  To keep your Policy in force, you will
need to pay the amount shown in the pre-lapse notice directly to NELICO.

     5.  Additional Payments and Loan Repayments.  You cannot use payroll
deductions to make payments in addition to your planned premium payments or to
repay a Policy loan.  Please contact NELICO or your registered representative if
you would like to arrange either of these transactions.


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