<PAGE> 1
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 the date of this supplement 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.
PAYMENT ENHANCEMENTS
The Company is currently offering a promotional payment enhancement for
initial and subsequent purchase payments to contracts issued on and after
January 4, 1999. The promotional payment enhancement, as a percentage of
purchase payments, is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Cumulative Purchase Payments Promotional Payment Enhancement
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Less than $500,000 4.0%
$500,000 or more but less than $2,500,000 5.0%
$2,500,000 or more 6.0%
</TABLE>
To be eligible for the promotional payment enhancement, initial purchase
payments must be received by the Company on or after January 4, 1999. Subsequent
payments to contracts issued on or after January 4, 1999 will receive the
promotional payment enhancement if the promotion is in effect when the
subsequent payment is received by the Company. If the promotion is not in
effect, the subsequent payment will receive the payment enhancement described in
the prospectus. Initial and subsequent purchase payments to contracts issued
prior to January 4, 1999 will not be eligible for the promotional payment
enhancement but will receive the payment enhancement described in the
prospectus. The Company reserves the right to change or terminate the
promotional payment enhancement at any time for purchase payments made after the
effective date of the change. Contract owners should not rely on the promotional
payment enhancement being in effect for subsequent payments.
<PAGE> 2
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 JANUARY 4 1999.
VTG20.SUPP0199
<PAGE> 3
The Manufacturers Insurance Company of North America
73 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02108
January 4, 1999
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 5th Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20549
Attention: File Desk
Re: The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company of North America Separate
Account A Registration Statements on Form N-4
File No. 333-24657
Dear Sirs:
On behalf of the above-captioned registrant, we enclose herewith for
filing pursuant to Rule 497(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, a supplement
dated January 4, 1999 to the registrant's definitive prospectuses dated May 1,
1998.
If you have any questions, please call the undersigned at
(617) 854-8628.
Very truly yours,
/s/ BETSY ANNE SEEL
- -------------------
Betsy Anne Seel
Counsel
Enclosure
