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Filed Pursuant to Rule 497(e)
Registration File No.: 33-89510
THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
SUPPLEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 15, 1996
TO
EQUI-VEST(REGISTERED TRADEMARK) PROSPECTUS
DATED MAY 1, 1995
This supplement modifies certain information in the prospectus dated May 1,
1995 (the "Prospectus") for EQUI-VEST, group and individual deferred variable
annuity contracts offered by Equitable Life. Subject to the rules discussed
below Equitable Life will offer its EQUI-VEST Series 200 TSA contracts modified
with Rider 95MDHOSP (the "Modified TSA Contract"). This Supplement describes
the material differences between the Modified TSA Contract and the EQUI-VEST
Series 200 TSA contract described in the Prospectus. Capitalized terms in this
Supplement have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.
The Modified TSA Contract may only be offered to employees (age 75 and below)
of hospitals and other non-profit healthcare organizations doing business in
Maryland. Other material differences between the Modified TSA Contract and
the TSA provisions described in the EQUI-VEST Prospectus include the
following:
o CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE. The Contingent Withdrawal Charge schedule
for the Modified TSA Contract is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
- ------------------------------
Contract Year(s) Charge
- ------------------ ----------
<S> <C>
1 6%
2 5
3 4
4 3
5 2
6+ 0
</TABLE>
This table replaces the table on page 50 of the Prospectus.
o No contingent withdrawal charge will apply to funds transferred on or
after 1/18/96 into the Modified TSA Contract from another tax sheltered annuity
contract qualified under Section 403(b) of the Code and issued by an insurance
company other than Equitable Life.
o FREE WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT (FREE CORRIDOR). The free corridor amount is
available immediately under the Modified TSA Contract.
o LOANS. Loans will be available under the Modified TSA Contract when the
TSA plan is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
(ERISA). Only one outstanding loan will be permitted at any time. There is a
minimum loan amount of $1,000 and a maximum loan amount which varies
depending on the participant's Annuity Account Value but may never exceed
$50,000. For more complete details and rules on Loans see "Loans" in Part 6
of the Prospectus and "Part 2: Loan Provisions" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
In addition, under the Modified TSA Contract we will determine the loan
interest rate, unless the TSA's plan administrator chooses to do so. If we
set the rate, it will be equal to the Prime Rate (the base rate on corporate
loans posted by at least 75% of the nation's 30 largest banks) as published
in the Wall Street Journal on the first Monday of the last month of the
calendar quarter prior to the effective date of the loan, plus one percentage
point (1.00%).
o ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE. No annual administrative charge will be
charged to participants in the Modified TSA Contract.
