<PAGE> 1
SUPPLEMENT DATED JULY 1, 1999 TO
PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1999 FOR
DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
ISSUED BY
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
THROUGH ITS
NATIONWIDE VARIABLE ACCOUNT - 5
THIS SUPPLEMENT UPDATES CERTAIN INFORMATION CONTAINED IN YOUR PROSPECTUS. PLEASE
READ IT AND KEEP IT WITH YOUR PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
1. INFORMATION FOR THE FOLLOWING UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS CONTAINED IN THE
"UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES" TABLE LOCATED ON PAGE 6 OF YOUR
PROSPECTUS, IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS:
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
(AS A PERCENTAGE OF UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND AVERAGE NET ASSETS,
AFTER EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Management Other 12b-1 Total Mutual
Fees Expenses Fees Fund Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund 0.44% 0.22% 0.00% 0.66%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund 0.34% 0.21% 0.00% 0.55%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund 0.57% 0.21% 0.00% 0.78%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
The expenses shown above are deducted by the underlying mutual fund before it
provides Nationwide with the daily net asset value. Nationwide then deducts
applicable variable account charges from the net asset value to calculate the
unit value of the corresponding sub-account. The management fees and other
expenses are more fully described in the prospectus for each underlying mutual
fund. Information relating to the underlying mutual funds was provided by the
underlying mutual funds and not independently verified by Nationwide.
Some underlying mutual funds are subject to fee waivers and expense
reimbursements. The following chart shows what the expenses would have been for
such funds without fee waivers and expense reimbursements.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Management Other 12b-1 Total Mutual
Fees Expenses Fees Fund Expenses
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NSAT Government Bond Fund 0.50% 0.22% 0.00% 0.72%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund 0.40% 0.21% 0.00% 0.61%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund 0.59% 0.21% 0.00% 0.80%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
2. INFORMATION FOR THE FOLLOWING UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS CONTAINED IN THE
"EXAMPLE" CHART LOCATED ON PAGE 7 OF YOUR PROSPECTUS, IS AMENDED AS
FOLLOWS:
The following chart shows the amount of expenses (in dollars) that would be
incurred under this contract assuming a $1,000 investment, 5% annual return, and
no change in expenses. These dollar figures are illustrative only and should not
be considered a representation of past or future expenses. Actual expenses may
be greater or less than those shown below.
The example reflects expenses of both the variable account and the underlying
mutual funds. The example reflects the standard 7 year CDSC schedule and the
maximum amount of variable account charges that could be assessed to a contract
(1.30%). The Contract Maintenance Charge is reflected as a
1
<PAGE> 2
percentage of the average contract account size for existing contracts. Since
average account size is greater than $1,000, the expense effect of the Contract
Maintenance Charge is reduced accordingly. Deductions for premium taxes are not
reflected but may apply.
The summary of contract expenses and example are to help contract owners
understand the expenses associated with the contract.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you surrender your contract If you do not surrender your If you annuitize your contract
at the end of the applicable contract at the end of the at the end of the applicable
time period applicable time period time period
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Yr. 3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs. 1 Yr. 3 Yrs 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs. 1 Yr. 3 Yrs. 5 Yrs. 10 Yrs.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NSAT Government Bond Fund 92 114 145 253 22 69 118 253 * 69 118 253
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund 91 110 139 241 21 65 112 241 * 65 112 241
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund 94 117 151 265 24 72 124 265 * 72 124 265
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
3. THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THE "DOLLAR COST AVERAGING" PROVISION ON PAGE 23
OF YOUR PROSPECTUS IS AMENDED TO DELETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE:
"Contract owners may participate in this program if their contract value
is $5,000 or more."
2