John Hancock Adds Vitality Solution To Variable Universal Life

BOSTON, Dec. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock Insurance announced today that the John Hancock Vitality solution, a new approach to life insurance that rewards people for healthy living, is now available on its variable universal life insurance product, Accumulation VUL.

Accumulation VUL with Vitality is designed for pre-retirees and features strong death benefit protection along with cash value accumulation potential to help consumers better prepare for the future.  With the John Hancock Vitality solution, Accumulation VUL policyholders have the opportunity to increase their policy cash value, while also earning valuable rewards and discounts by taking simple steps to improve their health.

John Hancock Vitality policyholders who actively engage in the program throughout their lifetime have the potential to increase their policy value by thousands of dollars as they near retirement age.

"Americans are increasingly concerned about outliving their savings in retirement," said Michael Doughty, President of John Hancock Insurance. "They are also living longer, but not necessarily healthier lives.  Accumulation VUL with Vitality can help them increase their retirement income potential while also motivating and rewarding them for living healthy -- now and in the future."

In addition, Accumulation VUL with Vitality provides policyholders with the opportunity to fund other expenses, including paying for college or supporting a business. They can choose from a diversified range of underlying investment accounts that represent nearly every major asset class and investment style, or opt for the simplicity and automatic diversification offered by John Hancock's Lifestyle MVP Portfolios.

With the John Hancock Vitality Program, clients immediately begin accumulating "Vitality Points" after their policy is issued and when they complete health-related activities like exercising, getting an annual health screening or even a flu shot.  The number of Vitality Points a policyholder earns over the course of a year determines their program status level.  The higher their Vitality Status, the more policy credits may be earned and applied to their policy cash value.  In addition, the healthier their lifestyle, the more points policyholders can accumulate to earn valuable travel, shopping and entertainment-related rewards and discounts from major brands such as Amazon, Hyatt, and REI.

As part of the program, policyholders receive personalized health goals and can easily log their activities using online and automated tools, which are integrated with personal health technology. In fact, John Hancock is giving every new policyholder a free Fitbit® device as just one of many easy ways to keep track of their progress.

As of today, Accumulation VUL with Vitality is available in 34 states and John Hancock will continue to roll it out across the country. The company also offers the Vitality solution on Protection UL, Protection IUL and Accumulation IUL, and John Hancock Term with Vitality.

To learn more about John Hancock life insurance with Vitality, visit www.JHRewardsLife.com.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife
John Hancock Financial is a division of Manulife, a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. Operating as Manulife in Canada and Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, our group of companies offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Assets under management and administration by Manulife and its subsidiaries were C$888 billion (US$663 billion) as at September 30, 2015. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers and administers a broad range of financial products, including life insurance, annuities, investments, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

About Vitality
The Vitality Group is a member of Discovery Ltd., a global financial service organization offering an incentive-based wellness program to employers as part of their benefits program. With a foundation based on actuarial science and behavioral economic theory, Vitality encourages changes in lifestyle that reduce health care costs, both in the short run and long term, by rewarding members for addressing their specific health issues. Vitality wellness programs serve companies in a wide range of sizes and industries, improving individuals' health and wellbeing as well as employers' bottom lines.

Vitality brings a global perspective through successful partnerships with large employers and best-in- class insurers around the world, in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, China and more recently Singapore and Australia. Additional information can be found at www.thevitalitygroup.com.

Other Important Information

Variable universal life insurance has annual fees and expenses associated with it in addition to life insurance related charges (which differ with the product chosen), including surrender charges and investment management fees. Variable universal life insurance products are long-term contracts and are sold by prospectus.  They are subject to market risk due to the underlying sub-accounts, and are unsuitable as a short term savings vehicle. The primary purpose of variable universal life insurance is to provide lifetime protection against economic loss due to the death of the insured person.  Cash values are not guaranteed if the client is invested in the investment accounts.  There are risks associated with each investment option, and the policy may lose value.

Loans and withdrawals will reduce the death benefit and the cash surrender value, and may cause the policy to lapse. Lapse or surrender of a policy with a loan may cause the recognition of taxable income. Withdrawals in excess of the cost basis (premiums paid) will be subject to tax and certain withdrawals within the first 15 years may be subject to recapture tax. Additionally, policies classified as Modified Endowment Contracts may be subject to tax when a loan or withdrawal is made. A federal tax penalty of 10% may also apply if the loan or withdrawal is taken prior to age 59½. Cash value available for loans and withdrawals may be more or less than originally invested. Withdrawals are available after the first policy year.

Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock.

Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02117 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595 and securities offered through John Hancock Distributors LLC through other broker/dealers that have a selling agreement with John Hancock Distributors LLC, 197 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02117.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states.  Please consult your financial representative as to product availability.

Enhanced Income Potential will apply based on the Status attained by the life insured.

John Hancock Vitality Program rewards and discounts are only available to the person insured under the eligible life insurance policy.

Rewards may vary based on the ownership and inforce status of the insurance policy, and the state where the insurance policy was issued.

REI is not affiliated with the John Hancock Vitality Program. REI does not sponsor, endorse or have any responsibility for this promotion.

Please contact 1-800-827-4546 to obtain product and fund prospectuses (for New York, contact 1-877-391-3748, option 4).  The prospectuses contain complete details on investment objectives, risks, fees, charges and expenses as well as other information about the investment company. Please read the prospectuses carefully containing this and other information on the product and the underlying portfolios and consider these factors carefully before investing.

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SOURCE John Hancock Financial