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SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS
THE MANUFACTURERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
DATED MAY 1, 1998
FINANCIAL RATINGS OF THE COMPANY
The contracts described in the Prospectus are issued by The Manufacturers Life
Insurance Company of North America (the "Company"). The Company's financial
ratings are as follows:
A++ A.M. Best
Superior in financial strength; 1st category of 15
AAA Duff & Phelps
Highest in claims paying ability; 1st category of 18
AA+ Standard & Poor's
Excellent in claims paying ability; 2nd category of 21
Aa2 Moody's
Excellent in financial strength; 3rd category of 21
These ratings, which are current as of September 21, 1998 and are subject to
change, are assigned to The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of North
America as a measure of the Company's ability to honor the death benefit and
life annuitization guarantees but not specifically to its products, the
performance (return) of these products, the value of any investment in these
products upon withdrawal or to individual securities held in any portfolio.
DEATH BENEFIT BEFORE MATURITY DATE - PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
Item (5) of the second paragraph under the heading "Death Benefit Before
Maturity Date - Payment of Death Benefit" is amended and restated as follows:
(5) If the owner's spouse is the beneficiary, the spouse continues the contract
as the new owner. In such a case, the distribution rules described in "(4)"
applicable when a contract owner dies will apply when the spouse, as the owner,
dies. In addition, a death benefit will be paid upon the death of the spouse.
For purposes of calculating the death benefit payable upon the death of the
spouse, the death benefit paid upon the first owner's death will be treated as a
purchase payment to the contract. This treatment of contract value as a purchase
payment is not included in cumulative purchase payments and is not eligible for
a payment enhancement. In addition, all payments made and all amounts deducted
in connection with partial withdrawals prior to the date of the first owner's
death will not be considered in the determination of the spouse's death benefit.
SUPPLEMENT DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 1998
VTG20.SUPP998
