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PUTNAM CAPITAL MANAGER VARIABLE ANNUITY
Hartford Life Insurance Company
Supplement Dated January 22, 1997 to the Putnam Capital Manager
Variable Annuity Prospectus Dated May 1, 1996,
Revised Effective January 2, 1997
Add the following paragraph to the subsection entitled "D. Individual
Retirement Annuities Under Section 408" on page 26:
IRA's generally may not invest in life insurance contracts. However, an
annuity that is used as an IRA may provide a death benefit that equals
the greater of the premiums paid and the annuity's cash value. The
Contract offers an enhanced Death Benefit that may exceed the greater of
the Contract Value and total Premium Payments less prior surrenders. For
Contracts issued in most states, Hartford Life has obtained approval
from the Internal Revenue Service to use the Contract as an IRA. For
Contracts issued in New York, Hartford Life has asked the Internal
Revenue Service to approve use of the Contract as an IRA, but there is
no assurance that approval will be granted.
HV-2109-1
33-73566