COVA VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT ONE
497, 1998-11-04
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THIS COVA  VARIABLE  ANNUITY  PROSPECTUS  DATED OCTOBER 28, 1998 REPLACES IN ITS
ENTIRETY THE COVA VARIABLE ANNUITY PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1998.


                         THE FIXED AND VARIABLE ANNUITY

                                    ISSUED BY

                        COVA VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT ONE
                                    
                                       AND

                 COVA FINANCIAL SERVICES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                    

This prospectus  describes the Fixed and Variable  Annuity  Contract  offered by
Cova Financial Services Life Insurance Company (Cova).

The annuity contract has 15 investment choices - a fixed account which offers an
interest rate which is guaranteed by Cova, and 14 investment  portfolios  listed
below.  You  can put  your  money  in the  fixed  account  and/or  any of  these
investment portfolios (except as noted).

AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.:
MANAGED BY A I M ADVISORS, INC.
   AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation
   
COVA SERIES TRUST:
MANAGED BY J.P. MORGAN
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.:
   International Equity
   Quality Bond

MANAGED BY LORD, ABBETT & CO.:
   Bond Debenture
                                                          
MANAGED BY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY     
ADVISORS, INC.                    
   Balanced                            
   Small Cap Equity
   Equity Income
   Growth & Income Equity
                                                                  
GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL                                          
COMPANY: 
MANAGED BY CONNING
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY                                          
    Money Market                                                  
                                                      
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS:
MANAGED BY OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
   Oppenheimer High Income 
   Oppenheimer Growth 
   Oppenheimer Strategic Bond 

TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, CLASS 1 SHARES
MANAGED BY TEMPLETON INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC.
   Templeton International
  
MANAGED BY TEMPLETON ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
   Templeton Developing Markets

Please  read this  prospectus  before  investing  and keep it on file for future
reference.  It contains important  information about the Cova Fixed and Variable
Annuity Contract.

To learn more about the Cova Fixed and Variable Annuity Contract, you can obtain
a copy of the Statement of Additional  Information (SAI) dated October 28, 1998.
The SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (SEC) and is
legally   a  part  of  the   prospectus.   The   SEC   maintains   a  Web   site
(http://www.sec.gov)  that contains the SAI, material incorporated by reference,
and other information  regarding  registrants that file  electronically with the
SEC.  The Table of Contents of the SAI is on Page 16 of this  prospectus.  For a
free copy of the SAI, call us at (800)  523-1661 or write us at: One Tower Lane,
Suite 3000, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-4644.

INVESTMENT  IN A VARIABLE  ANNUITY  CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO RISKS,  INCLUDING THE
POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL. THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR
GUARANTEED  OR ENDORSED  BY, ANY  FINANCIAL  INSTITUTION  AND ARE NOT  FEDERALLY
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD,
OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.

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

October 28, 1998

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        PAGE
INDEX OF SPECIAL TERMS                                                    3

SUMMARY                                                                   4
FEE TABLE                                                                 6

EXAMPLES                                                                  7

1.  THE ANNUITY CONTRACT                                                  9

2.  ANNUITY PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE)                                   9

3.  PURCHASE                                                              9
Purchase Payments                                                         9
Allocation of Purchase Payments                                           9
Accumulation Units                                                       10
 
4.  INVESTMENT OPTIONS                                                   10    
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.                                       10
Cova Series Trust                                                        10
General American Capital Company                                         10
Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds                                       10
Templeton Variable Products Series Fund                                  10
Transfers                                                                11   
Dollar Cost Averaging Program                                            11
Automatic Rebalancing Program                                            11
Approved Asset Allocation Programs                                       11
Voting Rights                                                            11
Substitution                                                             11 

5.  EXPENSES                                                             12
Insurance Charges                                                        12
Contract Maintenance Charge                                              12 
Withdrawal Charge                                                        12
Reduction or Elimination of the Withdrawal Charge                        12
Premium Taxes                                                            12
Transfer Fee                                                             12
Income Taxes                                                             12
Investment Portfolio Expenses                                            12

6.     TAXES                                                             13
Annuity Contracts in General                                             13
Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts                                    13 
Withdrawals - Non-Qualified Contracts                                    13
Withdrawals - Qualified Contracts                                        13 
Withdrawals - Tax-Sheltered Annuities                                    13
Diversification                                                          13 
 
7.   ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY                                                13
Systematic Withdrawal Program                                            14

8.  PERFORMANCE                                                          14

9.  DEATH BENEFIT                                                        14
Upon Your Death                                                          14
Death of Annuitant                                                       15

10. OTHER INFORMATION                                                    16
Cova                                                                     16
Year 2000                                                                16
The Separate Account                                                     16
Distributor                                                              16
Ownership                                                                16
Beneficiary                                                              16
Assignment                                                               16
Suspension of Payments or Transfers                                      16 
Financial Statements                                                     16

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION             16

APPENDIX A            
Condensed Financial Information                                         A-1

APPENDIX B
Performance Information                                                 B-1




                            INDEX OF SPECIAL TERMS


We have tried to make this prospectus as readable and  understandable for you as
possible. By the very nature of the contract,  however,  certain technical words
or terms are  unavoidable.  We have  identified  the  following as some of these
words or terms.  They are  identified in the text in italic and the page that is
indicated  here is where we believe you will find the best  explanation  for the
word or term. 
                                                                        Page

Accumulation Phase....................................................... 9
Accumulation Unit........................................................10
Annuitant................................................................ 9
Annuity Date............................................................. 9
Annuity Options.......................................................... 9
Annuity Payments......................................................... 9
Annuity Unit.............................................................10
Beneficiary..............................................................16
Fixed Account............................................................ 9
Income Phase............................................................. 9
Investment Portfolios....................................................10
Joint Owner..............................................................16
Non-Qualified............................................................13
Owner....................................................................16
Purchase Payment......................................................... 9
Qualified................................................................13
Tax Deferral.............................................................13


SUMMARY

THE SECTIONS IN THIS SUMMARY  CORRESPOND  TO SECTIONS IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  WHICH
DISCUSS THE TOPICS IN MORE DETAIL.

1. THE ANNUITY CONTRACT:

The fixed and variable  annuity  contract  offered by Cova is a contract between
you, the owner, and Cova, an insurance  company.  The contract  provides a means
for  investing  on a  tax-deferred  basis  in a fixed  account  of  Cova  and 14
investment portfolios.  The contract is intended for retirement savings or other
long-term  investment  purposes and provides for a death benefit and  guaranteed
income options.

The fixed  account  offers an interest  rate that is guaranteed by the insurance
company, Cova. While your money is in the fixed account, the interest your money
will earn as well as your principal is guaranteed by Cova.

This contract also offers 14 investment  portfolios  which are listed in Section
4.  These  portfolios  are  designed  to offer a better  return  than the  fixed
account. However, this is NOT guaranteed. You can also lose your money.

You can put money into any or all of the investment portfolios (except as noted)
and the fixed account.  You can transfer  between accounts up to 12 times a year
without charge or tax implications.  After 12 transfers, the charge is $25 or 2%
of the amount transferred, whichever is less.

The  contract,  like  all  deferred  annuity  contracts,  has  two  phases:  the
accumulation phase and the income phase. During the accumulation phase, earnings
accumulate  on a  tax-deferred  basis and are  taxed as  income  when you make a
withdrawal.  The income phase occurs when you begin receiving  regular  payments
from your contract.

The  amount of money  you are able to  accumulate  in your  account  during  the
accumulation  phase  will  determine  the amount of income  payments  during the
income phase.

2. ANNUITY  PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE):

If you want to receive  regular income from your annuity,  you can choose one of
three options. Once you begin receiving regular payments, you cannot change your
payment plan. During the income phase, you have the same investment  choices you
had during the accumulation phase. You can choose to have payments come from the
fixed account, the investment portfolios or both. If you choose to have any part
of your payments come from the investment portfolios,  the dollar amount of your
payments may go up or down.

3.  PURCHASE:  

You can buy this contract with $5,000 or more under most circumstances.  You can
add  $500 or more  any  time  you  like  during  the  accumulation  phase.  Your
registered representative can help you fill out the proper forms.

4. INVESTMENT OPTIONS:

You can put your money in any or all of these  investment  portfolios  which are
described in the prospectuses for the funds:

AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.:
MANAGED BY A I M ADVISORS, INC.
   AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation


COVA SERIES TRUST:
MANAGED BY J.P. MORGAN
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.
   International Equity
   Quality Bond

MANAGED BY LORD, ABBETT & CO.
   Bond Debenture
                                                              
MANAGED BY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY     
ADVISORS, INC.                    
   Balanced                            
   Small Cap Equity
   Equity Income
   Growth & Income Equity
                                                                  
GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL                                          
COMPANY: 
MANAGED BY CONNING
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY                                          
    Money Market                                                  

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS:
MANAGED BY OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
   Oppenheimer High Income
   Oppenheimer Growth 
   Oppenheimer Strategic Bond 

TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, CLASS 1 SHARES:
MANAGED BY TEMPLETON INVESTMENT COUNSEL, INC.
   Templeton International
  
MANAGED BY TEMPLETON ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
   Templeton Developing Markets

Depending  upon  market  conditions,  you can make or lose money in any of these
portfolios.

5. EXPENSES:

The contract has insurance features and investment features, and there are costs
related to each.

Each year Cova deducts a $30  contract  maintenance  charge from your  contract.
During the accumulation phase, Cova currently waives this charge if the value of
your contract is at least $50,000.  Cova also deducts for its insurance  charges
which total 1.40% of the average daily value of your  contract  allocated to the
investment portfolios.

If you take your money out,  Cova may assess a withdrawal  charge which is equal
to 5% of the purchase  payment you withdraw.  When you begin  receiving  regular
income  payments from your annuity,  Cova will assess a state premium tax charge
which ranges from 0%-4%, depending upon the state.

There are also  investment  charges which currently range from .205% to 1.58% of
the  average  daily  value  of  the  investment  portfolio  depending  upon  the
investment portfolio.

6. TAXES:

Your  earnings  are not taxed  until you take  them out.  If you take  money out
during the accumulation phase,  earnings come out first and are taxed as income.
If you are younger than 59 1/2 when you take money out, you may be charged a 10%
federal  tax  penalty on the  earnings.  Payments  during  the income  phase are
considered  partly a  return  of your  original  investment.  That  part of each
payment is not taxable as income.

7.  ACCESS  TO YOUR  MONEY:

You can take money out at any time  during  the  accumulation  phase.  After the
first year,  you can take up to 10% of your total  purchase  payments  each year
without  charge from Cova.  Withdrawals  in excess of that will be charged 5% of
each payment you take out.  Each  purchase  payment you add to your contract has
its own 5 year  withdrawal  charge  period.  After Cova has had a payment  for 5
years, there is no charge for withdrawing that payment.  Of course, you may also
have to pay income tax and a tax penalty on any money you take out.

8.  PERFORMANCE:

The value of the contract  will vary up or down  depending  upon the  investment
performance  of  the   Portfolio(s)  you  choose.   Cova  provides   performance
information  in Appendix B and the SAI. Past  performance  is not a guarantee of
future results.

9. DEATH BENEFIT:  

If you die before moving to the income phase, the person you have chosen as your
beneficiary will receive a death benefit.

10.  OTHER INFORMATION:

     Free Look. If you cancel the contract within 10 days after receiving it (or
whatever period is required in your state), we will send your money back without
assessing a withdrawal  charge. You will receive whatever your contract is worth
on the day we receive your request.  This may be more or less than your original
payment.  If we're required by law to return your original  payment,  we reserve
the right to put your  money in the  Money  Market  Fund  during  the  free-look
period.

     No  Probate.  In most  cases,  when you die,  the person you choose as your
beneficiary will receive the death benefit without going through probate.

     Who should  purchase  the  Contract?  This  contract is designed for people
seeking long-term tax-deferred  accumulation of assets, generally for retirement
or other  long-term  purposes.  The  tax-deferred  feature is most attractive to
people in high federal and state tax brackets.  You should not buy this contract
if you are looking for a short-term investment or if you cannot take the risk of
getting back less money than you put in.

     Additional  Features.  This contract has  additional  features you might be
interested in. These include:

     You can  arrange to have money  automatically  sent to you each month while
your contract is still in the accumulation phase. Of course,  you'll have to pay
taxes on money you  receive.  We call this  feature  the  Systematic  Withdrawal
Program.

     You can arrange to have a regular amount of money automatically invested in
investment portfolios each month,  theoretically giving you a lower average cost
per unit over time than a single one time purchase.  We call this feature Dollar
Cost Averaging.

     You can arrange to  automatically  readjust  the money  between  investment
portfolios  periodically  to keep the blend  you  select.  We call this  feature
Automatic Rebalancing. 

     Under  certain  circumstances,  Cova  will  give you your  money  without a
withdrawal  charge if you need it while you're in a nursing  home.  We call this
feature the Nursing Home Waiver.

These  features are not available in all states and may not be suitable for your
particular situation.

11.  INQUIRIES:

If you need more information, please contact us at:

                     Cova Life Sales Company
                     One Tower Lane, Suite 3000
                     Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
                     800-523-1661



                 COVA VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT ONE FEE TABLE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                               <C>
OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Withdrawal Charge (see Note 2 below)
   5% of purchase payment withdrawn

Transfer Fee (see Note 3 below)
   No charge for first 12 transfers in a
   contract year; thereafter, the fee is
   $25 per transfer or, if less, 2% of the
   amount transferred.

Contract Maintenance Charge (see Note 4 below)    
   $30 per contract per year
</TABLE>

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average account value)
Mortality and Expense Risk Premium          1.25%
Administrative Expense Charge                .15%
                                            -----
TOTAL SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES      1.40%


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO EXPENSES                                                      Other Expenses 
(as a percentage of the average daily net                                          (after expense
assets of an investment portfolio)                  Management                     reimbursement for       Total Annual
                                                    Fees                           certain Portfolios)     Portfolio Expenses
                                                   -----------                    ----------------------  ------------------
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Managed by A I M Advisors, Inc.                              
<S>                                                          <C>                                    <C>               <C> 
   AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation(a)                          .63%                                   .05%              .68%

COVA SERIES TRUST(b)
Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.
   International Equity                                      .85%                                   .10%              .95%
   Quality Bond                                              .55%                                   .10%              .65%
Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co.
   Bond Debenture                                            .75%                                   .10%              .85%
Managed by Mississippi Valley Advisors, Inc. 
   Balanced(c)                                              1.00%                                   .10%             1.10%
   Small Cap Equity(c)                                      1.00%                                   .10%             1.10%
   Equity Income(c)                                         1.00%                                   .10%             1.10%
   Growth & Income Equity(c)                                1.00%                                   .10%             1.10%

GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY
Managed by Conning Asset
Management Company
   Money Market                                             .125%                                   .08%             .205%
  
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.                          
   Oppenheimer High Income                                  .75%                                     .07%              .82%
   Oppenheimer Growth                                       .73%                                     .02%              .75%
   Oppenheimer Strategic Bond                               .75%                                     .08%              .83%

TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, CLASS 1 
SHARES
Managed by Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.
   Templeton International(d)                               .69%                                     .19%              .88%
  
Managed by Templeton Asset Management Ltd.
   Templeton Developing Markets                            1.25%                                     .33%             1.58%
<FN>
     (a) A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM") may from time to time voluntarily waive or
reduce its fees.  Effective May 1, 1998, the Fund reimburses AIM in an amount up
to 0.25% of the average net asset value of the Fund,  for  expenses  incurred in
providing, or assuring that participating  insurance companies provide,  certain
administrative  services.  Currently,  the fee only  applies to the  average net
asset  value  of the  Fund in  excess  of the net  asset  value  of the  Fund as
calculated on April 30, 1998.
                                                
     (b)  Since  August  20,  1990,  Cova has been  reimbursing  the  investment
portfolios  of Cova Series Trust for all  operating  expenses  (exclusive of the
management   fees)  in  excess  of  approximately   .10%.   Absent  the  expense
reimbursement and management fee waiver,  the percentages shown for total annual
portfolio  expenses  (on an  annualized  basis)  for the  year or  period  ended
December 31, 1997 would have been 1.53% for the International  Equity Portfolio,
1.08% for the Quality Bond  Portfolio,  1.07% for the Bond Debenture  Portfolio,
3.81% for the  Balanced  Portfolio,  3.97% for the Small Cap  Equity  Portfolio,
3.58% for the Equity  Income  Portfolio and 3.51% for the Growth & Income Equity
Portfolio.

     (c)Annualized.  The Portfolio  commenced  investment  operations on July 1,
1997.
        
     (d) Management Fees and Total Annual Portfolio  Expenses have been restated
to reflect the management fee schedule  approved by  shareholders  and effective
May 1, 1997. Actual  Management Fees and Total Annual Portfolio  Expenses before
May 1, 1997 were lower.
</FN>
</TABLE>
    
EXAMPLES:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
You would pay the  following  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,  assuming  a 5%
annual return on assets: (a) upon surrender at the end of each time period;
                         (b) if the contract is not surrendered or is annuitized.

                                                                Time Periods

                                                     1 year     3 years      5 years      10 years
                                                     ------     -------      -------      --------

AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Managed by A I M Advisors, Inc.     
<S>                                                    <C>         <C>    
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation                      (a) $72.09  (a) $113.03
                                                   (b) $22.09  (b) $ 68.03
COVA SERIES TRUST
Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

                                                
   International Equity                            (a) $74.80  (a) $121.17   (a) $175.00   (a) $276.23
                                                   (b) $24.80  (b) $ 76.17   (b) $130.00   (b) $276.23
   Quality Bond                                    (a) $71.79  (a) $112.12   (a) $159.89   (a) $245.92
                                                   (b) $21.79  (b) $ 67.12   (b) $114.89   (b) $245.92
Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co.
   Bond Debenture                                  (a) $73.80  (a) $118.16   (a)$ 169.99   (a) $266.24
                                                   (b) $23.80  (b) $ 73.16   (b)$ 124.99   (b) $266.24
Managed by Mississippi Valley Advisors, Inc.
   Balanced                                        (a) $76.30  (a) $125.66
                                                   (b) $26.30  (b) $ 80.66
   Small Cap Equity                                (a) $76.30  (a) $125.66
                                                   (b) $26.30  (b) $ 80.66
   Equity Income                                   (a) $76.30  (a) $125.66
                                                   (b) $26.30  (b) $ 80.66
   Growth & Income Equity                          (a) $76.30  (a) $125.66
                                                   (b) $26.30  (b) $ 80.66

GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY
Managed by Conning Asset Management Company
   Money Market                                    (a) $67.31  (a) $ 98.54   (a) $137.02   (a) $199.08
                                                   (b) $17.31  (b) $ 53.54   (b) $ 92.02   (b) $199.08

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
    Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
    Oppenheimer High Income                        (a)$73.50   (a)$117.26
                                                   (b)$23.50   (b)$ 72.26
    Oppenheimer Growth                             (a)$72.80   (a)$115.15 
                                                   (b)$22.80   (b)$ 70.15  
    Oppenheimer Strategic Bond                     (a)$73.60   (a)$117.56 
                                                   (b)$23.60   (b)$ 72.56

TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND,
CLASS 1 SHARES
    Managed by Templeton Investment Counsel, Inc.  
    Templeton International                        (a)$74.10   (a)$119.07
                                                   (b)$24.10   (b)$ 74.07
       
    Managed by Templeton Asset Management Ltd.
    Templeton Developing Markets                   (a)$81.08   (a)$139.90
                                                   (b)$31.08   (b)$ 94.90
</TABLE>

EXPLANATION OF FEE TABLE AND EXAMPLES

     1. The  purpose of the Fee Table is to show you the  various  expenses  you
will incur  directly or  indirectly  with the contract.  The Fee Table  reflects
expenses of the Separate Account as well as the investment portfolios.

     2. The withdrawal charge is 5% of the purchase payments you withdraw. After
Cova has had a purchase  payment  for 5 years,  there is no charge by Cova for a
withdrawal of that purchase  payment.  You may also have to pay income tax and a
tax penalty on any money you take out.  After the first year, you can take up to
10% of your total purchase payments each year without a charge from Cova.

     3. Cova will not charge you the transfer fee even if there are more than 12
transfers in a year if the transfer is for the Dollar Cost Averaging,  Automatic
Rebalancing or Approved Asset Allocation Programs.

     4.  During  the  accumulation  phase,  Cova will not  charge  the  contract
maintenance  charge if the value of your contract is $50,000 or more,  although,
if you make a complete  withdrawal,  Cova will charge the  contract  maintenance
charge.

     5. Premium taxes are not  reflected.  Premium taxes may apply  depending on
the state where you live.

     6. The assumed average contract size is $30,000.

     7. THE EXAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES. ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.

There is an accumulation  unit value history contained in Appendix A - Condensed
Financial Information.


1.   THE ANNUITY CONTRACT

This Prospectus  describes the Fixed and Variable  Annuity  Contract  offered by
Cova.

An annuity is a contract  between you, the owner,  and an insurance  company (in
this case Cova),  where the insurance  company promises to pay you an income, in
the form of annuity payments,  beginning on a designated date that's at least 30
days in the future.  Until you decide to begin receiving annuity payments,  your
annuity is in the accumulation phase. Once you begin receiving annuity payments,
your  contract  switches to the income  phase.  The Contract  benefits  from tax
deferral.

Tax  deferral  means that you are not taxed on earnings or  appreciation  on the
assets in your contract until you take money out of your contract.

The  contract  is called a variable annuity  because  you can  choose  among the
investment  portfolios and,  depending upon market  conditions,  you can make or
lose  money in any of these  portfolios.  If you  select  the  variable  annuity
portion of the contract,  the amount of money you are able to accumulate in your
contract during the accumulation  phase depends upon the investment  performance
of the investment  portfolio(s)  you select.  The amount of the annuity payments
you receive  during the income  phase from the variable  annuity  portion of the
contract  also  depends  upon  the  investment  performance  of  the  investment
portfolios you select for the income phase.

The contract also contains a fixed account. The fixed account offers an interest
rate that is guaranteed by Cova. Cova  guarantees that the interest  credited to
the fixed  account  will not be less than 3% per year with  respect to contracts
issued on or after May 1, 1996. If you select the fixed account, your money will
be  placed  with the  other  general  assets of Cova.  If you  select  the fixed
account,  the amount of money you are able to accumulate in your contract during
the  accumulation  phase  depends  upon  the  total  interest  credited  to your
contract. The amount of the annuity payments you receive during the income phase
from the fixed account  portion of the contract will remain level for the entire
income phase.

As owner of the contract,  you exercise all rights under the  contract.  You can
change the owner at any time by notifying  Cova in writing.  You and your spouse
can be named joint owners. We have described more information on this in Section
10 - Other Information.

2.   ANNUITY PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE)

Under the contract you can receive regular income  payments.  You can choose the
month and year in which  those  payments  begin.  We call that date the  annuity
date. Your annuity date must be the first day of a calendar month.  You can also
choose among income plans. We call those annuity options.

We ask you to choose your annuity date and annuity  option when you purchase the
contract. You can change either at any time before the annuity date with 30 days
notice to us. Your  annuity  date cannot be any earlier than one month after you
buy the contract.  Annuity  payments must begin by the annuitant's 85th birthday
or 10 years from the date the  contract  was  issued,  whichever  is later.  The
annuitant is the person whose life we look to when we make annuity payments.

If you do not choose an annuity option at the time you purchase the contract, we
will assume that you  selected  Option 2 which  provides a life  annuity with 10
years of guaranteed payments.

During the  income  phase,  you have the same  investment  choices  you had just
before  the start of the  income  phase.  At the  annuity  date,  you can choose
whether payments will come from the fixed account,  the investment  portfolio(s)
or a combination of both. If you don't tell us otherwise,  your annuity payments
will be based on the  investment  allocations  that were in place on the annuity
date.

If you  choose  to have any  portion  of your  annuity  payments  come  from the
investment  portfolio(s),  the dollar  amount of your payment will depend upon 3
things:  1) the value of your  contract in the  investment  portfolio(s)  on the
annuity  date, 2) the 3% assumed  investment  rate used in the annuity table for
the contract,  and 3) the performance of the investment portfolios you selected.
If the actual  performance  exceeds the 3% assumed rate,  your annuity  payments
will  increase.  Similarly,  if the actual  rate is less than 3%,  your  annuity
payments will decrease.

You can choose one of the following  annuity options or any other annuity option
acceptable to Cova.  After annuity payments begin, you cannot change the annuity
option.

OPTION 1. LIFE ANNUITY.  Under this option, we will make an annuity payment each
month so long as the  annuitant  is alive.  After the  annuitant  dies,  we stop
making annuity payments.

OPTION 2. LIFE ANNUITY WITH 5, 10 OR 20 YEARS GUARANTEED.  Under this option, we
will make an  annuity  payment  each  month so long as the  annuitant  is alive.
However,  if, when the annuitant  dies,  we have made annuity  payments for less
than the  selected  guaranteed  period,  we will then  continue to make  annuity
payments  for the  rest of the  guaranteed  period  to the  beneficiary.  If the
beneficiary does not want to receive annuity payments,  he or she can ask us for
a single lump sum.

OPTION 3.  JOINT AND LAST  SURVIVOR  ANNUITY.  Under this  option,  we will make
annuity  payments  each month so long as the  annuitant  and a second person are
both alive.  When either of these people dies,  we will continue to make annuity
payments,  so long as the survivor  continues to live. The amount of the annuity
payments we will make to the  survivor  can be equal to 100%,  66 2/3% or 50% of
the amount that we would have paid if both were alive.

Annuity  payments  are made  monthly  unless you have less than  $5,000 to apply
toward a payment ($2,000 if the contract is issued in  Massachusetts  or Texas).
In that case,  Cova may  provide  your  annuity  payment  in a single  lump sum.
Likewise,  if your  annuity  payments  would be less than  $100 a month  ($20 in
Texas),  Cova has the right to change the  frequency  of  payments  so that your
annuity payments are at least $100 ($20 in Texas).

3.   PURCHASE

PURCHASE PAYMENTS

A purchase payment is the money you give us to buy the contract.  The minimum we
will accept is $5,000 when the contract is bought as a  non-qualified  contract.
If you  are  buying  the  contract  as  part  of an IRA  (Individual  Retirement
Annuity),  401(k) or other qualified plan, the minimum we will accept is $2,000.
The  maximum we accept is $1 million  without our prior  approval.  You can make
additional purchase payments of $500 or more to either type of contract.

ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS

When you purchase a contract,  we will  allocate  your  purchase  payment to the
fixed account and/or one or more of the investment portfolios you have selected.
If you make additional purchase payments,  we will allocate them in the same way
as your first  purchase  payment  unless you tell us otherwise.  There is a $500
minimum  balance  requirement  for the  fixed  account  and for each  investment
portfolio.

If you change your mind about owning this contract,  you can cancel it within 10
days after receiving it (or the period required in your state).  When you cancel
the contract within this time period,  Cova will not assess a withdrawal charge.
You will receive back whatever your contract is worth on the day we receive your
request.  In certain  states or if you have purchased the contract as an IRA, we
may be required to give you back your  purchase  payment if you decide to cancel
your contract  within 10 days after receiving it (or whatever period is required
in your state).  If that is the case,  we reserve the right to put your purchase
payment in the Money Market Fund of General American Capital Company for 15 days
before we allocate your first purchase  payment to the  investment  portfolio(s)
you have selected.  (In some states, the period may be longer.) Currently,  Cova
directly  allocates your purchase  payment to the investment  portfolios  and/or
fixed account you select.

Once we receive your  purchase  payment and the necessary  information,  we will
issue your contract and allocate your first  purchase  payment within 2 business
days. If you do not give us all of the  information we need, we will contact you
to get it. If for some reason we are unable to complete  this  process  within 5
business  days,  we will either send back your money or get your  permission  to
keep it until we get all of the necessary information.  If you add more money to
your  contract by making  additional  purchase  payments,  we will credit  these
amounts to your  contract  within one business day. Our business day closes when
the New York Stock Exchange closes, usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

ACCUMULATION UNITS

The value of the variable  annuity  portion of your  contract will go up or down
depending upon the investment  performance  of the investment  portfolio(s)  you
choose.  In order to keep track of the value of your contract,  we use a unit of
measure we call an accumulation  unit. (An accumulation  unit works like a share
of a mutual  fund.)  During the income phase of the contract we call the unit an
annuity unit.

Every  day we  determine  the  value  of an  accumulation  unit  for each of the
investment portfolios. We do this by:

     1.  determining  the  total  amount  of money  invested  in the  particular
investment portfolio;

     2. subtracting from that amount any insurance charges and any other charges
such as taxes we have deducted; and

     3. dividing this amount by the number of outstanding accumulation units.

The value of an accumulation unit may go up or down from day to day.

When you make a purchase  payment,  we credit your  contract  with  accumulation
units.  The number of accumulation  units credited is determined by dividing the
amount of the purchase payment allocated to an investment portfolio by the value
of the accumulation unit for that investment portfolio.

We calculate the value of an  accumulation  unit for each  investment  portfolio
after the New York Stock Exchange closes each day and then credit your contract.

EXAMPLE:

On Monday we receive an additional purchase payment of $5,000 from you. You have
told us you want this to go to the  Quality  Bond  Portfolio.  When the New York
Stock  Exchange  closes  on that  Monday,  we  determine  that  the  value of an
accumulation  unit for the  Quality  Bond  Portfolio  is $13.90.  We then divide
$5,000  by  $13.90  and  credit  your  contract  on  Monday  night  with  359.71
accumulation units for the Quality Bond Portfolio.

4.   INVESTMENT OPTIONS

The contract offers 14 investment portfolios which are listed below.  Additional
investment portfolios may be available in the future.

YOU SHOULD READ THE  PROSPECTUSES  FOR THESE FUNDS CAREFULLY  BEFORE  INVESTING.
COPIES OF THESE PROSPECTUSES ARE ATTACHED TO THIS PROSPECTUS. CERTAIN PORTFOLIOS
CONTAINED IN THE FUND PROSPECTUSES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE WITH YOUR CONTRACT.


AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

AIM  Variable  Insurance  Funds,  Inc. is a management  investment  company with
multiple  portfolios.  A I M Advisors,  Inc. is the  investment  adviser to each
portfolio. The following portfolio is available under the contract:
  
   AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund

COVA SERIES TRUST

Cova  Series  Trust is managed by Cova  Investment  Advisory  Corporation  (Cova
Advisory),  which is an  affiliate  of Cova.  Cova Series Trust is a mutual fund
with multiple  portfolios.  Each investment portfolio has a different investment
objective.  Cova Advisory has engaged  sub-advisers to provide investment advice
for the individual  investment  portfolios.  The following investment portfolios
are available under the contract:


J.P.  MORGAN  INVESTMENT  MANAGEMENT  INC. IS THE  SUB-ADVISER  TO THE FOLLOWING
PORTFOLIOS:

International Equity Portfolio
Quality Bond Portfolio

LORD, ABBETT & CO. IS THE SUB-ADVISER TO THE FOLLOWING PORTFOLIO:

Bond Debenture Portfolio

MISSISSIPPI   VALLEY  ADVISORS,   INC.  IS  THE  SUB-ADVISER  TO  THE  FOLLOWING
PORTFOLIOS:

Balanced Portfolio
Small Cap Equity Portfolio
Equity Income Portfolio
Growth & Income Equity Portfolio

GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY

General American Capital Company is a mutual fund with multiple portfolios. Each
portfolio  is  managed  by  Conning  Asset  Management  Company.  The  following
portfolio is available under the contract:

Money Market Fund

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS

Oppenheimer  Variable  Account Funds is a mutual fund with multiple  portfolios.
OppenheimerFunds,  Inc.  is  the  investment  adviser  to  each  portfolio.  The
following portfolios are available under the contract:

     Oppenheimer High Income Fund
     Oppenheimer Growth Fund
     Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund

TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND

Templeton  Variable  Products  Series  Fund  is  a  mutual  fund  with  multiple
portfolios. Templeton Variable Products Series Fund issues two classes of shares
- - Class 1 and Class 2. Only shares of Class 1 are available under your contract.
Templeton  Investment  Counsel,  Inc. is the investment manager of the Templeton
International  Fund;  and  Templeton  Asset  Management  Ltd. is the  investment
manager of the Templeton  Developing Markets Fund. The following  portfolios are
available under the contract:

     Templeton International Fund
     Templeton Developing Markets Fund
    
Shares of the investment  portfolios  may be offered in connection  with certain
variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance  policies of various life
insurance  companies  which  may or may not be  affiliated  with  Cova.  Certain
investment portfolios may also be sold directly to qualified plans. The funds do
not believe that offering their shares in this manner will be disadvantageous to
you.

Cova may enter into certain  arrangements  under which it is  reimbursed  by the
investment   portfolios'  advisors,   distributors  and/or  affiliates  for  the
administrative services which it provides to the portfolios.

TRANSFERS

You can transfer money among the fixed account and the investment portfolios.

Cova has  reserved the right during the year to terminate or modify the transfer
provisions described above.

You can make transfers by telephone. If you own the contract with a joint owner,
unless Cova is instructed  otherwise,  Cova will accept instructions from either
you or the other  owner.  Cova will use  reasonable  procedures  to confirm that
instructions  given  us by  telephone  are  genuine.  If Cova  fails to use such
procedures,  we may be liable for any losses due to  unauthorized  or fraudulent
instructions. Cova tape records all telephone instructions.

TRANSFERS  DURING THE  ACCUMULATION  PHASE. You can make 12 transfers every year
during  the  accumulation  phase  without  charge.  We  measure  a year from the
anniversary  of the day we issued your  contract.  You can make a transfer to or
from the fixed account and to or from any investment portfolio. If you make more
than 12 transfers in a year,  there is a transfer fee  deducted.  The fee is $25
per transfer or, if less, 2% of the amount  transferred.  The following apply to
any transfer during the accumulation phase:

     1. The minimum  amount  which you can transfer is $500 or your entire value
in the investment portfolio or fixed account.

     2.  Your  request  for  transfer  must  clearly   state  which   investment
portfolio(s) or the fixed account are involved in the transfer.

     3. Your  request for transfer  must clearly  state how much the transfer is
for.

     4. You cannot  make any  transfers  within 7 calendar  days of the  annuity
date.

TRANSFERS  DURING THE INCOME  PHASE.  You can only make  transfers  between  the
investment  portfolios once each year. We measure a year from the anniversary of
the day we issued your contract.  You cannot  transfer from the fixed account to
an  investment  portfolio,  but you can  transfer  from  one or more  investment
portfolios to the fixed account at any time.

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING PROGRAM

The Dollar Cost Averaging  Program allows you to  systematically  transfer a set
amount each month from the Money Market Fund or the fixed  account to any of the
other investment  portfolio(s).  By allocating  amounts on a regular schedule as
opposed to allocating the total amount at one  particular  time, you may be less
susceptible  to the impact of market  fluctuations.  The Dollar  Cost  Averaging
Program is available only during the accumulation phase.

The minimum amount which can be transferred each month is $500. You must have at
least  $6,000 in the Money  Market  Fund or the fixed  account,  (or the  amount
required to  complete  your  program,  if less) in order to  participate  in the
Dollar Cost Averaging Program.

Cova  reserves  the right to  modify,  terminate  or  suspend  the  Dollar  Cost
Averaging Program.

If you  participate  in the Dollar Cost  Averaging  Program,  the transfers made
under the program are not taken into account in determining any transfer fee.

AUTOMATIC REBALANCING PROGRAM

Once  your  money  has been  allocated  among  the  investment  portfolios,  the
performance of each portfolio may cause your allocation to shift. You can direct
us  to  automatically  rebalance  your  contract  to  return  to  your  original
percentage  allocations by selecting our Automatic  Rebalancing Program. You can
tell us whether to  rebalance  quarterly,  semi-annually  or  annually.  We will
measure these periods from the  anniversary of the date we issued your contract.
The transfer  date will be the 1st day after the end of the period you selected.
The  Automatic  Rebalancing  Program is available  only during the  accumulation
phase. If you participate in the Automatic  Rebalancing  Program,  the transfers
made under the program are not taken into  account in  determining  any transfer
fee.

EXAMPLE:

Assume that you want your initial  purchase  payment  split between 2 investment
portfolios.  You want 40% to be in the Quality Bond  Portfolio  and 60% to be in
the Small Cap Equity Portfolio.  Over the next 2 1/2 months the bond market does
very well  while  the  stock  market  performs  poorly.  At the end of the first
quarter,  the Quality Bond Portfolio now represents 50% of your holdings because
of its  increase in value.  If you had chosen to have your  holdings  rebalanced
quarterly,  on the first day of the next  quarter,  Cova would sell some of your
units in the Quality  Bond  Portfolio to bring its value back to 40% and use the
money to buy  more  units in the Small Cap Equity Portfolio  to  increase  those
holdings to 60%.

APPROVED ASSET ALLOCATION PROGRAMS

Cova recognizes the value to certain owners of having available, on a continuous
basis,  advice for the  allocation  of your money among the  investment  options
available under the contracts. Certain providers of these types of services have
agreed  to  provide  such   services  to  owners  in   accordance   with  Cova's
administrative rules regarding such programs.

Cova has made no  independent  investigation  of these  programs.  Cova has only
established that these programs are compatible with our  administrative  systems
and rules.  Approved asset  allocation  programs are only  available  during the
accumulation phase.

Even though Cova  permits the use of approved  asset  allocation  programs,  the
contract was not designed for professional market timing organizations. Repeated
patterns  of  frequent  transfers  are  disruptive  to  the  operations  of  the
investment portfolios, and when Cova becomes aware of such disruptive practices,
we may modify the transfer provisions of the contract.

If you participate in an Approved Asset Allocation  Program,  the transfers made
under the program are not taken into account in determining any transfer fee.

VOTING RIGHTS

Cova is the  legal  owner of the  investment  portfolio  shares.  However,  Cova
believes that when an investment  portfolio solicits proxies in conjunction with
a vote of  shareholders,  it is  required  to obtain  from you and other  owners
instructions as to how to vote those shares. When we receive those instructions,
we will vote all of the shares we own in proportion to those instructions.  This
will also  include  any shares  that Cova owns on its own  behalf.  Should  Cova
determine that it is no longer  required to comply with the above,  we will vote
the shares in our own right.

SUBSTITUTION

Cova may be required to substitute  one of the  investment  portfolios  you have
selected with another portfolio. We would not do this without the prior approval
of the Securities and Exchange Commission. We will give you notice of our intent
to do this.

5.   EXPENSES

There are charges and other expenses  associated  with the contracts that reduce
the return on your investment in the contract. These charges and expenses are:

INSURANCE CHARGES

Each day, Cova makes a deduction for its  insurance  charges.  Cova does this as
part of its calculation of the value of the  accumulation  units and the annuity
units.  The  insurance  charge has two parts:  1) the mortality and expense risk
premium and 2) the administrative expense charge.

MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK PREMIUM. This charge is equal, on an annual basis, to
1.25% of the daily value of the contracts  invested in an investment  portfolio,
after expenses have been deducted. This charge is for all the insurance benefits
e.g.,  guarantee of annuity rates,  the death benefits,  for certain expenses of
the contract,  and for assuming the risk (expense risk) that the current charges
will be  insufficient  in the  future  to cover  the cost of  administering  the
contract.  If the charges under the contract are not sufficient,  then Cova will
bear the loss.  Cova  does,  however,  expect to profit  from this  charge.  The
mortality and expense risk premium cannot be increased. Cova may use any profits
it makes from this charge to pay for the costs of distributing the contract.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE. This charge is equal, on an annual basis, to .15%
of the daily value of the contracts invested in an investment  portfolio,  after
expenses have been deducted. This charge, together with the contract maintenance
charge (see below), is for all the expenses  associated with the  administration
of the  contract.  Some of these  expenses  are:  preparation  of the  contract,
confirmations,  annual reports and statements,  maintenance of contract records,
personnel  costs,  legal and  accounting  fees,  filing  fees,  and computer and
systems costs. Because this charge is taken out of every unit value, you may pay
more in  administrative  costs than those that are  associated  solely with your
contract.  Cova does not intend to profit  from this  charge.  However,  if this
charge and the contract  maintenance charge are not enough to cover the costs of
the contracts in the future, Cova will bear the loss.

CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE

During the  accumulation  phase,  every year on the anniversary of the date when
your  contract  was issued,  Cova  deducts $30 from your  contract as a contract
maintenance charge. (In South Carolina, the charge is the lesser of $30 or 2% of
the value of the  contract.)  This charge is for  administrative  expenses  (see
above). This charge cannot be increased.

Cova will not  deduct  this  charge  during the  accumulation  phase if when the
deduction is to be made, the value of your contract is $50,000 or more. Cova may
some time in the future discontinue this practice and deduct the charge.

If you make a complete withdrawal from your contract,  the contract  maintenance
charge will also be deducted.  A pro rata portion of the charge will be deducted
if the annuity date is other than an  anniversary.  After the annuity date,  the
charge will be collected monthly out of the annuity payment.

WITHDRAWAL CHARGE

During the accumulation phase, you can make withdrawals from your contract. Cova
keeps track of each purchase payment.  Once a year after the first year, you can
withdraw up to 10% of your total purchase payments and no withdrawal charge will
be assessed on the 10%, if on the day you make your withdrawal the value of your
contract is $5,000 or more. Otherwise, the charge is 5% of each purchase payment
you take out. However,  after Cova has had a purchase payment for 5 years, there
is no charge  when you  withdraw  that  purchase  payment.  For  purposes of the
withdrawal  charge,  Cova treats  withdrawals as coming from the oldest purchase
payment  first.  When  the  withdrawal  is for  only  part of the  value of your
contract,  the  withdrawal  charge is deducted from the remaining  value in your
contract.

NOTE:  For tax purposes,  withdrawals  are considered to have come from the last
money into the contract. Thus, for tax purposes, earnings are considered to come
out first.

Cova does not assess the  withdrawal  charge on any payments paid out as annuity
payments or as death benefits.

After you have owned the  contract  for one year,  if you, or your joint  owner,
becomes  confined to a nursing home or hospital for at least 90 consecutive days
under a doctor's care and you need part or all of the money from your  contract,
Cova will not impose a  withdrawal  charge.  You or your joint owner cannot have
been so confined when you purchased your contract  (confinement must begin after
the first contract anniversary) if you want to take advantage of this provision.
This is called the Nursing Home Waiver.  This  provision is not available in all
states.

REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF THE WITHDRAWAL CHARGE

Cova will  reduce or  eliminate  the amount of the  withdrawal  charge  when the
contract  is sold  under  circumstances  which  reduce its sales  expense.  Some
examples are: if there is a large group of  individuals  that will be purchasing
the contract or a prospective  purchaser  already had a relationship  with Cova.
Cova will not deduct a withdrawal  charge under a contract issued to an officer,
director or employee of Cova or any of its affiliates.

PREMIUM TAXES

Some  states  and other  governmental  entities  (e.g.,  municipalities)  charge
premium taxes or similar  taxes.  Cova is  responsible  for the payment of these
taxes and will make a deduction from the value of the contract for them. Some of
these  taxes are due when the  contract is issued,  others are due when  annuity
payments  begin.  It is Cova's  current  practice to not charge anyone for these
taxes until annuity payments begin. Cova may some time in the future discontinue
this practice and assess the charge when the tax is due. Premium taxes generally
range from 0% to 4%, depending on the state.

TRANSFER FEE

You can make 12 free  transfers  every  year.  We measure a year from the day we
issue your contract. If you make more than 12 transfers a year, we will deduct a
transfer fee of $25 or 2% of the amount that is transferred whichever is less.

If the  transfer is part of the Dollar Cost  Averaging  Program,  the  Automatic
Rebalancing  Program or an Approved Asset Allocation  Program, it will not count
in determining the transfer fee.

INCOME TAXES

Cova will deduct from the contract for any income taxes which it incurs  because
of the contract. At the present time, we are not making any such deductions.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO EXPENSES

There are  deductions  from and  expenses  paid out of the assets of the various
investment portfolios, which are described in the attached fund prospectuses.

6.   TAXES

NOTE:  Cova has  prepared  the  following  information  on  taxes  as a  general
discussion of the subject.  It is not intended as tax advice to any  individual.
You should consult your own tax adviser about your own  circumstances.  Cova has
included in the Statement of  Additional  Information  an additional  discussion
regarding taxes.

ANNUITY CONTRACTS IN GENERAL

Annuity  contracts are a means of setting aside money for future needs - usually
retirement.  Congress  recognized  how important  saving for  retirement was and
provided special rules in the Internal Revenue Code (Code) for annuities.

Simply  stated these rules provide that you will not be taxed on the earnings on
the money held in your annuity  contract  until you take the money out.  This is
referred to as tax  deferral.  There are  different  rules as to how you will be
taxed  depending  on how you  take the  money  out and the  type of  contract  -
qualified or non-qualified (see following sections).

You, as the owner,  will not be taxed on increases in the value of your contract
until a  distribution  occurs - either as a withdrawal  or as annuity  payments.
When you make a withdrawal you are taxed on the amount of the withdrawal that is
earnings. For annuity payments, different rules apply. A portion of each annuity
payment is treated as a partial return of your purchase payments and will not be
taxed. The remaining  portion of the annuity payment will be treated as ordinary
income.  How the annuity  payment is divided  between  taxable  and  non-taxable
portions depends upon the period over which the annuity payments are expected to
be made.  Annuity payments received after you have received all of your purchase
payments are fully includible in income.

When  a  non-qualified   contract  is  owned  by  a  non-natural  person  (e.g.,
corporation  or certain other  entities other than  tax-qualified  trusts),  the
contract will generally not be treated as an annuity for tax purposes.

QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

If you purchase the contract as an  individual  and not under any pension  plan,
specially sponsored program or an individual  retirement annuity,  your contract
is referred to as a non-qualified contract.

If you purchase the contract under a pension plan,  specially sponsored program,
or an individual retirement annuity, your contract is referred to as a qualified
contract.  Examples of  qualified  plans are:  Individual  Retirement  Annuities
(IRAs),  Tax-Sheltered  Annuities  (sometimes  referred to as 403(b) contracts),
H.R.  10  Plans  (sometimes  referred  to  as  Keogh  Plans),  and  pension  and
profit-sharing plans, which include 401(k) plans.

WITHDRAWALS - NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

If you make a withdrawal  from your contract,  the Code treats such a withdrawal
as first  coming  from  earnings  and then from  your  purchase  payments.  Such
withdrawn earnings are includible in income.

The Code also provides that any amount received under an annuity  contract which
is included in income may be subject to a penalty.  The amount of the penalty is
equal to 10% of the amount that is includible in income.  Some  withdrawals will
be exempt from the penalty.  They include any amounts:  (1) paid on or after the
taxpayer  reaches age 59 1/2;  (2) paid after you die;  (3) paid if the taxpayer
becomes  totally  disabled (as that term is defined in the Code);  (4) paid in a
series of substantially  equal payments made annually (or more frequently) under
a lifetime annuity;  (5) paid under an immediate annuity; or (6) which come from
purchase payments made prior to August 14, 1982.

WITHDRAWALS - QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

The above  information  describing the taxation of non-qualified  contracts does
not apply to  qualified  contracts.  There are  special  rules that  govern with
respect to qualified  contracts.  We have provided a more complete discussion in
the Statement of Additional Information.

WITHDRAWALS - TAX-SHELTERED ANNUITIES

The Code limits the withdrawal of purchase  payments made by owners from certain
Tax-Sheltered Annuities. Withdrawals can only be made when an owner: (1) reaches
age 59 1/2; (2) leaves his/her job; (3) dies; (4) becomes disabled (as that term
is defined in the Code); or (5) in the case of hardship. However, in the case of
hardship,  the  owner  can  only  withdraw  the  purchase  payments  and not any
earnings.

DIVERSIFICATION

The Code provides that the underlying  investments  for a variable  annuity must
satisfy  certain  diversification  requirements  in  order to be  treated  as an
annuity contract. Cova believes that the investment portfolios are being managed
so as to comply with the requirements.

Neither the Code nor the Internal  Revenue  Service  Regulations  issued to date
provide guidance as to the circumstances  under which you, because of the degree
of control you exercise over the underlying  investments,  and not Cova would be
considered the owner of the shares of the investment portfolios. If this occurs,
it will result in the loss of the favorable  tax treatment for the contract.  It
is unknown to what extent owners are permitted to select investment  portfolios,
to make  transfers  among the  investment  portfolios  or the number and type of
investment  portfolios owners may select from. If any guidance is provided which
is  considered  a new  position,  then the guidance  would  generally be applied
prospectively. However, if such guidance is considered not to be a new position,
it may be applied  retroactively.  This would mean that you, as the owner of the
contract, could be treated as the owner of the investment portfolios.

Due to the  uncertainty  in this  area,  Cova  reserves  the right to modify the
contract in an attempt to maintain favorable tax treatment.

7.   ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY

You can have access to the money in your  contract:  (1) by making a  withdrawal
(either a partial or a complete withdrawal);  (2) by electing to receive annuity
payments;  or (3) when a death benefit is paid to your  beneficiary.  Under most
circumstances, withdrawals can only be made during the accumulation phase.

When you make a complete  withdrawal  you will receive the value of the contract
on the day you made the withdrawal less any applicable  withdrawal charge,  less
any  premium  tax and less any  contract  maintenance  charge.  (See  Section 5.
Expenses for a discussion of the charges.)

Unless you instruct Cova otherwise, any partial withdrawal will be made pro-rata
from all the  investment  portfolios  and the fixed account you selected.  Under
most  circumstances  the amount of any partial  withdrawal  must be for at least
$500.  Cova requires  that after a partial  withdrawal is made you keep at least
$500 in any selected investment portfolio.

When you make a withdrawal, the amount of the death benefit may be reduced.  See
Section 9. Death Benefits.

INCOME TAXES, TAX PENALTIES AND CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY TO ANY WITHDRAWAL
YOU MAKE.

There are limits to the amount you can withdraw  from a qualified  plan referred
to as a 403(b) plan.  For a more complete  explanation  see Section 6. Taxes and
the discussion in the Statement of Additional Information.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM

If you are 59 1/2 or older, you may use the Systematic  Withdrawal Program. This
program provides an automatic  monthly payment to you of up to 10% of your total
purchase  payments  each  year.  No  withdrawal  charge  will be made for  these
payments. Cova does not have any charge for this program, but reserves the right
to charge in the future. If you use this program, you may not also make a single
10% free withdrawal.  For a discussion of the withdrawal charge and the 10% free
withdrawal, see Section 5. Expenses.

INCOME TAXES MAY APPLY TO SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS.

8.   PERFORMANCE

Cova periodically  advertises  performance of the various investment portfolios.
Cova will  calculate  performance by  determining  the percentage  change in the
value of an accumulation unit by dividing the increase  (decrease) for that unit
by the value of the  accumulation  unit at the  beginning  of the  period.  This
performance number reflects the deduction of the insurance charges.  It does not
reflect  the  deduction  of  any  applicable  contract  maintenance  charge  and
withdrawal charge. The deduction of any applicable  contract  maintenance charge
and withdrawal charges would reduce the percentage  increase or make greater any
percentage  decrease.  Any advertisement  will also include total return figures
which  reflect the  deduction of the  insurance  charges,  contract  maintenance
charge and withdrawal charges.

For periods  starting prior to the date the contracts  were first  offered,  the
performance  will be based on the historical  performance  of the  corresponding
investment  portfolios  for the  periods  commencing  from the date on which the
particular investment portfolio was made available through the Separate Account.
In addition,  for certain investment portfolios performance may be shown for the
period  commencing  from the inception date of the investment  portfolio.  These
figures should not be interpreted  to reflect actual  historical  performance of
the Separate Account.

Cova may, from time to time, include in its advertising and sales materials, tax
deferred  compounding  charts and other  hypothetical  illustrations,  which may
include comparisons of currently taxable and tax deferred  investment  programs,
based on selected tax brackets.

Appendix B contains performance information that you may find informative. It is
divided into various parts,  depending upon the type of performance  information
shown.  Future  performance  will vary and the results shown are not necessarily
representative of future results.

9.   DEATH BENEFIT

UPON YOUR DEATH

If you die before annuity payments begin,  Cova will pay a death benefit to your
beneficiary  (see below).  If you have a joint owner,  the death benefit will be
paid when the first of you dies.  Joint  owners must be spouses.  The  surviving
joint owner will be treated as the beneficiary.

Beginning May 1, 1998,  at the time you buy the  contract,  you can select Death
Benefit  Option A or B. If no option is  chosen on the forms  provided  by Cova,
Option A will be your Death Benefit.  If at the time you buy your contract,  the
endorsements  for Death Benefit  Options A and B are not approved in your state,
Death  Benefit  Option D will be your  death  benefit  until the  death  benefit
endorsements  are approved.  When both death benefit  endorsements are approved,
you will be given an  opportunity to choose between Option A or B. You will have
60 days to make this  selection.  If you fail to make an  election  during  this
time, your death benefit will  automatically be enhanced to Death Benefit Option
B.

If you  bought  your  contract  before  May 1,  1998,  you will  have a one time
election for a 60 day period, to choose Death Benefit Option B or C on your next
contract  anniversary  after  May 1,  1998 (or for a 60 day  period  after  both
endorsements are approved in your state). If you fail to make an election during
the 60 day period,  your death benefit will  automatically  be enhanced to Death
Benefit Option B. If on May 1, 1998, you or the Joint Owner are age 80 or older,
you will be unaffected by the changes in death benefits.  Death Benefit Option D
will continue to be your death benefit.

The death  benefits are described  below.  If you have a Joint Owner,  the death
benefit is  determined  based on the age of the oldest Joint Owner and the death
benefit is payable on the death of the first Joint Owner.

DEATH BENEFIT OPTION A:

Prior to you, or your joint owner,  reaching  age 80, the death  benefit will be
the greatest of:

     1.  Total  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal
charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The greatest adjusted contract value (GACV) (as explained below).

The GACV is evaluated at each contract  anniversary prior to the date of your or
your joint owner's  death,  and on each day a purchase  payment or withdrawal is
made. On the contract anniversary, if the current contract value is greater than
the GACV, the GACV will be increased to the current value of your contract. If a
purchase  payment is made, the amount of the purchase  payment will increase the
GACV. If a withdrawal is made, the GACV will be reduced by the sum of the amount
withdrawn (and any associated  withdrawal  charges) divided by the value of your
contract  immediately  before the withdrawal  multiplied by the GACV immediately
prior to the  withdrawal.  The  following  example  describes  the  effect  of a
withdrawal on the GACV:

      Example:          
      Assumed facts for example:
      $10,000 current GACV
      $ 8,000 contract value 
      $ 2,100 partial withdrawal ($ 2,000 withdrawal + $100 withdrawal
       charge)
           
      New GACV = $10,000 - [($2,100/$8,000) X $10,000]
      which results in the current GACV of $10,000 being reduced by $2,625

      The new GACV is $7,375.

After you, or your joint  owner,  reaches age 80, the death  benefit will be the
greatest of:

     1. Total purchase  payments made, less any withdrawals  (and any withdrawal
charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The greatest adjusted contract value (GACV) (as explained below).

The GACV is evaluated at each  contract  anniversary  on or before your, or your
joint owner's,  80th birthday,  and on each day a purchase payment or withdrawal
is made. On the contract  anniversary  on or before your, or your joint owner's,
80th birthday,  if the current contract value is greater than the GACV, the GACV
will be increased to the current value of your contract.  If a purchase  payment
is made,  the  amount of the  purchase  payment  will  increase  the GACV.  If a
withdrawal is made, the example above explains the effect of a withdrawal on the
GACV.
  
DEATH BENEFIT OPTION B:

Prior to you, or your joint owner,  reaching  age 80, the death  benefit will be
the greatest of:

     1.  Total  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal
charges paid on the  withdrawals)  accumulated at an annual rate of 4% until the
date of death; or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The greatest of the values of your  contract  resulting  from taking the
contract value on any five (5) year contract  anniversary prior to your, or your
joint  owner's  death,  plus any payments you made  subsequent  to that contract
anniversary,  less any  withdrawals  (and  any  withdrawal  charges  paid on the
withdrawals) subsequent to that contract anniversary.

After you, or your joint  owner,  reaches age 80, the death  benefit will be the
greatest of:

     1. Total  purchase  payments made on or before your, or your joint owner's,
80th birthday,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal  charges paid on the
withdrawals) accumulated at an annual rate of 4% until you, or your joint owner,
reach  age 80,  plus any  subsequent  purchase  payments,  less  any  subsequent
withdrawals (and any withdrawal charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The  greatest of the values of the  contract  resulting  from taking the
contract value on any prior five (5) year contract anniversary on or before your
or your joint owner's 80th birthday,  plus any purchase payments made after that
contract  anniversary,  less any withdrawals (and any withdrawal charges paid on
the withdrawals) made after that contract anniversary.

DEATH BENEFIT OPTION C:

Prior to you, or your joint owner,  reaching  age 80, the death  benefit will be
the greatest of:

     1.  Total  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal
charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The greatest adjusted contract value (GACV) (as explained below).

The GACV is initially the death  benefit  determined as of the day Cova receives
notice that you have elected this death benefit option.  This figure is based on
your  existing  death  benefit  as defined  in your  contract,  Option D (not as
defined in the endorsement for this option).  The GACV is then evaluated at each
subsequent contract anniversary prior to your or your joint owner's death and on
each  subsequent  day a purchase  payment or withdrawal is made. On the contract
anniversary,  if the current  contract  value is greater than the GACV, the GACV
will be increased to the current value of your contract.  If a purchase  payment
is made,  the  amount of the  purchase  payment  will  increase  the GACV.  If a
withdrawal is made,  the GACV will be reduced by the amount  withdrawn  (and any
associated withdrawal charges) divided by the value of your contract immediately
before  the  withdrawal   multiplied  by  the  GACV  immediately  prior  to  the
withdrawal.  The example above under Death Benefit  Option A explains the effect
of a withdrawal on the GACV under this death benefit option.

After you, or your joint  owner,  reaches age 80, the death  benefit will be the
greatest of:

     1. Total purchase  payments made, less any withdrawals  (and any withdrawal
charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The greatest adjusted contract value (GACV) (as explained below).

The GACV is initially the death  benefit  determined as of the day Cova receives
notice that you have elected this death benefit option.  This figure is based on
your  existing  death  benefit  as defined  in your  contract,  Option D (not as
defined in the endorsement for this option).  The GACV is then evaluated at each
subsequent contract  anniversary on or before your, or your joint owner's,  80th
birthday,  and on each subsequent day a purchase  payment or withdrawal is made.
On the contract  anniversary  on or before  your,  or your joint  owner's,  80th
birthday,  if the current contract value is greater than the GACV, the GACV will
be increased to the current  value of your  contract.  If a purchase  payment is
made, the amount of the purchase payment will increase the GACV. If a withdrawal
is made,  the GACV will be reduced by the sum of the amount  withdrawn  (and any
associated withdrawal charges) divided by the value of your contract immediately
before  the  withdrawal,  multiplied  by  the  GACV  immediately  prior  to  the
withdrawal.  The example above under Death Benefit  Option A explains the effect
of a withdrawal on the GACV under this death benefit option.

DEATH BENEFIT OPTION D

In  certain  states,  the  Death  Benefit  Options  described  above  may not be
available,  in which case you will have Death Benefit  Option D. When your state
approves  the  endorsements  for Option A or C and Option B, your death  benefit
will change (see the section above for details).

Prior to you, or your joint owner,  reaching  age 80, the death  benefit will be
the greater of:

     1.  Total  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal
charges paid on the  withdrawals)  accumulated  at an annual rate of 4% from the
date your contract was issued until the date of death; or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The value of your  contract  on the most  recent  five year  anniversary
before  the date of  death,  plus any  subsequent  purchase  payments,  less any
withdrawals (and any withdrawal charges paid on the withdrawals).

After you or your joint  owner,  reaches age 80, the death  benefit  will be the
greater of:

     1.  Total  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any  withdrawal
charges paid on the  withdrawals)  accumulated  at an annual rate of 4% from the
date your contract was issued until you or your joint owner reaches age 80, plus
any  subsequent  purchase  payments,  less any  withdrawals  (and any withdrawal
charges paid on the withdrawals); or

     2. The value of your  contract at the time the death benefit is to be paid;
or

     3. The value of your contract on the most recent five year  anniversary  on
or before you or your joint owner reaches age 80, plus any  subsequent  purchase
payments,  less  any  withdrawals  (and  any  withdrawal  charges  paid  on  the
withdrawals).

CHECK YOUR CONTRACT AND APPLICABLE ENDORSEMENT FOR YOUR DEATH BENEFIT. 

The entire death benefit must be paid within 5 years of the date of death unless
the  beneficiary  elects  to have the death  benefit  payable  under an  annuity
option.  The death benefit payable under an annuity option must be paid over the
beneficiary's  lifetime or for a period not extending  beyond the  beneficiary's
life expectancy. Payment must begin within one year of the date of death. If the
beneficiary  is the spouse of the owner,  he/she can  continue  the  contract in
his/her own name at the then current value. If a lump sum payment is elected and
all the necessary requirements are met, the payment will be made within 7 days.

DEATH OF ANNUITANT

If the  annuitant,  not an owner or joint owner,  dies before  annuity  payments
begin, you can name a new annuitant.  If no annuitant is named within 30 days of
the death of the annuitant, you will become the annuitant. However, if the owner
is a non-natural person (for example,  a corporation),  then the death or change
of annuitant will be treated as the death of the owner,  and a new annuitant may
not be named.

Upon the death of the annuitant after annuity payments begin, the death benefit,
if any, will be as provided for in the annuity option selected.

10.  OTHER INFORMATION

COVA

Cova Financial Services Life Insurance Company (Cova) was incorporated on August
17, 1981 as Assurance Life Company, a Missouri corporation, and changed its name
to Xerox Financial  Services Life Insurance  Company in 1985. On June 1, 1995, a
wholly-owned  subsidiary of General  American Life Insurance  Company  purchased
Cova  which on that  date  changed  its  name to Cova  Financial  Services  Life
Insurance Company.

Cova is  licensed to do  business  in the  District  of Columbia  and all states
except California, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

YEAR 2000

Cova has developed and initiated plans to assure that its computer  systems will
function properly in the year 2000 and later years.  These efforts have included
receiving  assurances from outside service providers that their computer systems
will also function properly in this context. Included within these plans are the
computer  systems of the advisers  and  sub-advisers  of the various  investment
portfolios underlying the Separate Account.

Although an  assessment  of the total cost of  implementing  these plans has not
been  completed,  the total  amounts to be expended  are not  expected to have a
material  effect on Cova's  financial  position or results of  operations.  Cova
believes  that it has taken all  reasonable  steps to  address  these  potential
problems.  There can be no  assurance,  however,  that the steps  taken  will be
adequate to avoid any adverse impact.

THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

Cova has  established  a separate  account,  Cova Variable  Annuity  Account One
(Separate Account), to hold the assets that underlie the contracts. The Board of
Directors of Cova adopted a resolution to establish  the Separate  Account under
Missouri  insurance  law on February 24, 1987. We have  registered  the Separate
Account with the Securities and Exchange  Commission as a unit investment  trust
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

The  assets of the  Separate  Account  are held in Cova's  name on behalf of the
Separate Account and legally belong to Cova. However, those assets that underlie
the contracts,  are not  chargeable  with  liabilities  arising out of any other
business  Cova may  conduct.  All the  income,  gains and  losses  (realized  or
unrealized)  resulting from these assets are credited to or charged  against the
contracts and not against any other contracts Cova may issue.

DISTRIBUTOR

Cova Life Sales  Company  (Life  Sales),  One Tower Lane,  Suite 3000,  Oakbrook
Terrace,  Illinois  60181-4644,  acts as the distributor of the contracts.  Life
Sales is an affiliate of Cova.

Commissions   will  be  paid  to   broker-dealers   who  sell   the   contracts.
Broker-dealers  will be paid  commissions  up to 5.5% of purchase  payments but,
under  certain  circumstances,   may  be  paid  an  additional  .5%  commission.
Sometimes,  Cova  enters into an  agreement  with the  broker-dealer  to pay the
broker-dealer  persistency bonuses, in addition to the standard commissions.

OWNERSHIP

OWNER.  You,  as the  owner of the  contract,  have  all the  rights  under  the
contract.  Prior to the annuity date, the owner is as designated at the time the
contract is issued, unless changed. On and after the annuity date, the annuitant
is the owner. The beneficiary becomes the owner when a death benefit is payable.

JOINT OWNER. The contract can be owned by joint owners.  Any joint owner must be
the spouse of the other owner (except in Pennsylvania). Upon the death of either
joint owner, the surviving spouse will be the designated beneficiary.  Any other
beneficiary  designation at the time the contract was issued or as may have been
later  changed  will be treated as a  contingent  beneficiary  unless  otherwise
indicated.

BENEFICIARY

The  beneficiary  is the  person(s)  or  entity  you name to  receive  any death
benefit.  The  beneficiary  is named at the time the  contract is issued  unless
changed at a later date.  Unless an irrevocable  beneficiary has been named, you
can change the beneficiary at any time before you die.

ASSIGNMENT

You can assign the contract at any time during your  lifetime.  Cova will not be
bound by the assignment  until it receives the written notice of the assignment.
Cova will not be liable for any  payment or other  action we take in  accordance
with the contract before we receive notice of the assignment.  AN ASSIGNMENT MAY
BE A TAXABLE EVENT.

If the contract is issued pursuant to a qualified plan, there may be limitations
on your ability to assign the contract.

SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS OR TRANSFERS

Cova may be  required  to  suspend  or  postpone  payments  for  withdrawals  or
transfers for any period when:

     1. the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary  weekend and
holiday closings);

     2. trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted;

     3. an  emergency  exists  as a result  of which  disposal  of shares of the
investment  portfolios is not reasonably  practicable or Cova cannot  reasonably
value the shares of the investment portfolios;

     4. during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission,  by
order, so permits for the protection of owners.

Cova has reserved the right to defer  payment for a withdrawal  or transfer from
the fixed  account  for the  period  permitted  by law but not for more than six
months.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The consolidated financial statements of Cova and the Separate Account have been
included in the Statement of Additional Information.



         TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Company

Experts

Legal Opinions

Distribution

Calculation of Performance Information

Federal Tax Status

Annuity Provisions

Financial Statements

APPENDIX A

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE HISTORY

The  following  schedule  includes  accumulation  unit  values  for the  periods
indicated.  This data has been extracted from the Separate  Account's  Financial
Statements.  This  information  should be read in conjunction  with the Separate
Account's  Financial  Statements  and related  notes  which are  included in the
Statement of Additional Information.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Year or      Year or     Year or     Year or     Year or     Year or     Year or
                                    Period         Period       Period      Period      Period      Period      Period      Period
                                    Ended          Ended        Ended       Ended       Ended       Ended       Ended       Ended
                                    6/30/98        12/31/97    12/31/96    12/31/95    12/31/94    12/31/93    12/31/92    12/31/91
                                   ----------     ----------- -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------


AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

Managed by A I M Advisors, Inc.
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Sub-Account

<S>                                 <C>                                                                                            
Beginning of Period                 $10.00          *                 *           *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                       $11.21
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  94,788

COVA SERIES TRUST                                 
                                            
Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co.                     
                                                  
Bond Debenture Sub-Account                           
Beginning of Period                 $12.88          $11.29     $    10.10         *           *           *           *         *   
End of Period                       $13.51          $12.88          11.29
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding 6,151,600      3,945,097        659,663

Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment                 
Management Inc.                                   
                                                  
                                              
International Equity Sub-Account                           
Beginning of Period                  $11.46        $10.97     $    10.21         *           *           *           *           *  
End of Period                        $13.06        $11.46          10.97
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding 6,578,152     5,440,592      1,306,892
                                                  
Quality Bond Sub-Account                           
Beginning of Period                  $11.16        $10.37     $     9.90         *           *           *           *           *  
End of Period                        $11.53        $11.16          10.37
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding 2,191,199     1,433,081        508,830
                                                  
Managed by Mississippi Valley Advisors, Inc.

Balanced Sub-Account
Beginning of Period                  $10.53        $10.00               *          *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                        $11.17        $10.53
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  125,129        38,079                                              

Small Cap Equity Sub-Account
Beginning of Period                  $10.42        $10.00               *          *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                        $10.95        $10.42 
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding   64,214        26,148                                            

Equity Income Sub-Account
Beginning of Period                  $11.19        $10.00               *          *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                        $12.26        $11.19
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  138,353        49,725                                              

Growth & Income Equity Sub-Account
Beginning of Period                  $10.76        $10.00               *          *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                        $11.81        $10.76
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  362,413       121,673                                               
                                               
GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY

Managed by Conning Asset Management Company
                  
Money Market Sub-Account                                 
Beginning of Period                 $10.67         $10.23       $    10.00         *           *           *           *           *
End of Period                       $10.89         $10.67            10.23 
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding 966,618        311,051           34,964


OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Oppenheimer High Income Sub-Account
Beginning of Period                 $10.00          *         *                *        *          *           *          * 
End of Period                       $10.41
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  33,269  

Oppenheimer Growth Sub-Account                     
Beginning of Period                 $10.00          *         *                *        *          *           *          *
End of Period                       $11.63
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  43,786  

Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Sub-Account             
Beginning of Period                 $10.00          *         *                *        *          *           *          *
End of Period                       $10.26
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  42,968  
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    Year or                  For the period
                                    Period                   from 12/11/89
                                    Ended                    (Start of
                                    12/31/90                 Operations)
                                                             through
                                                             12/31/89
                                   ------------             -------------
COVA SERIES TRUST                   
<S>                                <C>                      <C>
Managed by Lord, Abbett & Co.       
                                    
Bond Debenture Sub-Account          
Beginning of Period                    *                             *
End of Period                       
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  
                                    
Managed by J.P. Morgan Investment   
Management Inc.                     
                                  
International Equity Sub-Account    
Beginning of Period                    *                             *
End of Period                       
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  
                                    
Quality Bond Sub-Account            
Beginning of Period                    *                             *
End of Period                       
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  
                                   
 
GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY    
Money Market Fund                   
Beginning of Period                    *                             *
End of Period                       
Number of Accum. Units Outstanding  
<FN>
*    The  accumulation  unit values shown above for the  beginning of the period
     for the  International  Equity and Quality Bond Portfolios  managed by J.P.
     Morgan Investment Management Inc., and the Bond Debenture Portfolio managed
     by Lord,  Abbett & Co. reflect the date these  investment  portfolios  were
     offered for sale to the public  (5/1/96).  The Money Market Fund managed by
     Conning Asset Management Company started regular  investment  operations on
     June 3, 1996.  The Balanced,  Small Cap Equity,  Equity Income and Growth &
     Income Equity  Portfolios  managed by  Mississippi  Valley  Advisors,  Inc.
     commenced  regular  investment  operations on July 1, 1997.  The investment
     portfolios  managed by A I M  Advisors,  Inc.  and  OppenheimerFunds,  Inc.
     commenced  investment   operations  on  January  2,  1998.  The  investment
     portfolios  investing in Templeton  Variable Products Series Fund commenced
     operations as of the date of this Prospectus.
</FN>
</TABLE>


APPENDIX B

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Future  performance  will  vary  and  the  results  shown  are  not  necessarily
representative of future results.

Note:  The figures in Part 1 and Part 2 below  present  investment  performance
information for the periods ended June 30, 1998.  While these numbers  represent
the returns as of that date,  they do not represent  performance  information of
the portfolios  since that date.  Performance  information for the periods after
June 30, 1998 may be  significantly  different  (lower)  than the numbers  shown
below.

PART 1

The portfolios  listed below began operations before June 30, 1998. As a result,
performance  information is available for the accumulation unit values investing
in these portfolios.

Column A presents  performance  figures for the accumulation units which reflect
the  insurance  charges  as well as the  fees  and  expenses  of the  investment
portfolio.  Column B presents  performance  figures for the  accumulation  units
which reflect the insurance charges,  the contract  maintenance charge, the fees
and expenses of the investment portfolio,  and assume that you make a withdrawal
at the end of the period and therefore the withdrawal  charge is reflected.  The
inception  dates  shown  below  reflect  the dates the  Separate  Account  first
invested  in the  Portfolio.  The  performance  returns for  accumulation  units
investing  in the  portfolios  in  existence  for  less  than  one  year are not
annualized.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 1 AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 6/30/98

                                      Accumulation   Unit     Performance

                                      Column   A                     Column B
                    Separate          (reflects insurance            (reflects all
                    Account           charges and                    charges and
                    Inception         portfolio expenses)            portfolio expenses)
Portfolio           Date in           1 yr         since         1 yr        since 
                    Portfolio                      inception                 inception
- ----------------    ---------       --------       ---------  -------------  ----------  

<S>                  <C> <C>                         <C>                         <C>  
AIM V.I. Capital     1/2/98           --             12.11%       --             7.00%
Appreciation   
</TABLE>
    
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 1 COVA SERIES TRUST
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98

                                        Accumulation    Unit    Performance 
                                                  Column A                                           
                                                 (reflects                               Column B     
                                                 insurance                              (reflects    
                                                 charges and                             all charges
                         Separate Account        portfolio                               and portfolio
                         Inception Date          expenses)                               expenses)
Portfolio                in Portfolio            1 yr          5 yrs     since           1 yr         5 yrs      since
- -----------------        ----------------        ----------    --------  -------------   ----------   ---------  ---------- 
                                                                         inception                               inception
                                                                         -------------                           ---------- 
 

<S>                          <C> <C>               <C>                    <C>               <C>                    <C>   
International Equity         5/1/96                8.34%          --      12.00%            3.23%         --       10.01%
Quality Bond                 5/1/96                8.94%          --       7.28%            3.83%         --        5.20%
Bond Debenture               5/1/96               11.92%          --      14.39%            6.81%         --       12.44%
Balanced                     7/1/97               11.75%          --      11.75%            6.63%         --        6.63%
Small Cap Equity             7/1/97                9.46%          --       9.46%            4.35%         --        4.35%
Equity Income                7/1/97               22.58%          --      22.58%           17.46%         --       17.46%
Growth & Income Equity       7/1/97               18.12%          --      18.12%           13.00%         --       13.00%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 1 GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98

                                         Accumulation     Unit    Performance
                                                  Column A                                                  
                                                 (reflects                               Column B     
                                                 insurance                              (reflects    
                                                 charges and                             all charges
                         Separate Account        portfolio                               and portfolio
                         Inception Date          expenses)                               expenses)
Portfolio                in Portfolio            1 yr             since           1 yr            since
- -----------------        ----------------        ----------       -------------   ----------      ---------- 
                                                                  inception                       inception
                                                                  -------------                   ---------- 

<S>                          <C> <C>              <C>                <C>            <C>            <C>  
Money Market                 6/3/96               4.30%              4.20%         -0.81%          1.95%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 1 OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 6/30/98


                                          Accumulation   Unit     Performance

                                          Column   A                     Column B
                        Separate          (reflects insurance            (reflects all
                        Account           charges and                    charges and
                        Inception         portfolio expenses)            portfolio expenses)
Portfolio               Date in           1 yr         since         1 yr        since 
                        Portfolio                      inception                 inception
- ----------------        ---------       --------       ---------  -------------  ----------  
<S>                       <C> <C>                        <C>                        <C>  
Oppenheimer High Income   1/2/98           --            4.07%          --         -1.03%
Oppenheimer Growth        1/2/98           --           16.27%          --         11.16%
Oppenheimer Strategic
  Bond                    1/2/98           --            2.63%          --         -2.47%
</TABLE>

PART 2

Shares of the General  American  Capital  Company  Money  Market Fund were first
offered  under the  contract  on June 3, 1996.  Shares of the  Portfolio  of AIM
Variable  Insurance  Funds,  Inc. and the  Portfolios  of  Oppenheimer  Variable
Account Funds were first offered under the contract on December 30, 1997. Shares
of the Portfolios of Templeton  Variable Products Series Fund were first offered
under  the  contract  as of the  date  of  this  Prospectus  (collectively,  the
"Existing Funds").  However,  the Existing Funds have been in existence for some
time and therefore have an investment  performance history. In order to show how
investment performance of the Existing Funds affect accumulation unit values, we
have developed performance information.

The chart below shows the  investment  performance of the Existing Funds and the
accumulation  units performance  calculated by assuming that accumulation  units
were invested in the Portfolio of the Existing Fund for the same periods.

The performance  figures in Column A for the Existing Funds reflect the fees and
expenses paid by the Portfolio.  Column B presents  performance  figures for the
accumulation  units which reflect the insurance  charges as well as the fees and
expenses  of the  Portfolio.  Column  C  presents  performance  figures  for the
accumulation units which reflect the insurance charges, the contract maintenance
charge,  the fees and  expenses of the  Portfolio  and  assumes  that you make a
withdrawal  at the end of the  period and  therefore  the  withdrawal  charge is
reflected.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 2 AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98

                               Fund    Performance              Accumulation   Unit     Performance
                                Column A                         Column   B              Column C
                                                                (reflects insurance      (reflects all
                                                                 charges and              charges and
                                                                 portfolio expenses)      portfolio expenses)
                    Portfolio
                    Inception                     since                           since        Unit             since
Portfolio           Date         1 yr    5 yrs    inception      1 yr    5 yrs    inception    1 yr     5 yrs   inception
- ----------------    ---------   -------  ------   ------------   ------  -------  ----------   ------   -----   ---------- 

AIM V.I. Capital
<S>                 <C> <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>      <C>    
Appreciation        5/5/93       18.21%   19.66%     19.48%      16.81%   18.26%    18.08%     11.71%    13.66%   17.98% 
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 2 GENERAL AMERICAN CAPITAL COMPANY MONEY MARKET FUND
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98



                                           Fund    Performance       Accumulation   Unit     Performance
                                           Column A                  Column   B                        Column C
                                                                     (reflects insurance               (reflects all
                    Portfolio                                         charges and                       charges and
                    Inception                                         portfolio expenses)               portfolio expenses)
Portfolio           Date          1 yr     5 yrs        10 yrs     1 yr    5 yrs         10 yrs         1 yr      5 yrs     10 yrs 
- ----------------    ---------    -------   ------  ------------  -------  -----------    -------------  -------  ---------  --------

<S>                 <C>  <C>      <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>            <C>            <C>      <C>       <C>  
Money Market        10/1/87       5.76%     5.15%      6.02%      4.36%     3.75%          4.62%         -0.74%   -0.85%     4.52%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 2 OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98



                                   Fund    Performance              Accumulation   Unit     Performance
                                    Column A                         Column   B              Column C
                                                                    (reflects insurance      (reflects all
                                                                     charges and              charges and
                                                                     portfolio expenses)      portfolio expenses)

                            Portfolio                   10 yrs                   10 yrs                    10 yrs
                            Inception                   or since                 or since                 or since
Portfolio                   Date         1 yr  5 yrs    inception    1 yr  5 yrs inception 1 yr   5 yrs   inception
- ---------------             ---------   ------ ------   ----------  ------ ----- --------- -----  ------- ----------

<S>                         <C>  <C>   <C>    <C>        <C>        <C>    <C>    <C>       <C>     <C>     <C>   
Oppenheimer High Income     4/30/86    13.20% 11.43%     13.83%     11.80% 10.03% 12.43%    6.70%   5.43%   12.33%
Oppenheimer Growth           4/3/85    29.14% 21.75%     16.18%     27.74% 20.35% 14.78%   22.64%  15.75%   14.68%
Oppenheimer Strategic Bond   5/3/93     8.01%  7.76%      7.55%      6.61%  6.36%  6.15%    1.51%   1.76%    6.05%
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART 2 TEMPLETON VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND
AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN FOR THE PERIODS ENDED 6/30/98




                               Fund    Performance              Accumulation   Unit     Performance
                                Column A                         Column   B              Column C
                                                                (reflects insurance      (reflects all
                                                                 charges and              charges and
                                                                 portfolio expenses)      portfolio expenses)

                        Portfolio                    10 yrs                  10 yrs                    10 yrs
Portfolio               Inception                    or since                or since                 or since
                        Date         1 yr  5 yrs     inception   1 yr  5 yrs inception 1 yr   5 yrs   inception
- ---------------         ---------   ------ ------    ---------- ------ ----- --------- -----  ------- ----------

<S>                       <C> <C>  <C>    <C>         <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>     <C>        <C>   
Templeton International   5/1/92   13.95% 19.07%      16.27%   12.55% 17.67%   14.87%   7.45%   13.07%     14.77%
Templeton Developing      3/1/96  -48.81%  --        -25.10%  -50.21%   --    -26.50% -55.31%     --      -31.10%
  Markets  

CL-4128 (10/98)                                                    
</TABLE>


- ---------------------------
- ---------------------------                                            STAMP
- ---------------------------


                              Cova Financial Services Life
                               Insurance Company
                              Attn: Variable Products
                              One Tower Lane
                              Suite 3000
                              Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-4644




               Please  send  me,  at no  charge,  the  Statement  of  Additional
               Information  dated  October 28,  1998,  for The Annuity  Contract
               issued by Cova.

CL-2053 (10/98)                                                          COVA VA


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