John Hancock Led Industry in New Long-Term Care Insurance Sales in 2007

BOSTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Life Insurance Company sold more long-term care insurance (LTCI) than any other carrier in 2007, according to recent year-end surveys of long-term care insurers by LIMRA International (LIMRA)(1). John Hancock sold more than 100,000 policies/certificates, resulting in $197 million in total premium, across its retail and group LTCI businesses. The company was one of few carriers in the industry to experience double-digit growth in new premium sold year over year, and was also the top carrier for number of new lives sold.

In its retail LTCI business, John Hancock had the highest annual growth rate of the top 10 carriers with new premium growing by 28 percent, compared to an industry average of 3 percent.

In its group LTCI business, John Hancock had the highest annual growth rate of the top 5 carriers with new sales premium growing by 31 percent, compared to an industry average of 8 percent. The company also added more than 87 new clients to its group roster, resulting in a record sales year for John Hancock and more than a 35 percent share of the group market.

"I am very pleased with John Hancock's results in the LTC insurance arena," said Marianne Harrison, President, John Hancock Long-Term Care. "John Hancock has been consistently committed to offering innovative LTC insurance products to the meet the long term care needs of our customers and that are preferred by producers. The dedication, deep experience, and professionalism of our LTCI division are reflected in these results."

Harrison attributed success in the retail market to the company's focus on innovative products, expanded distribution capacity, and client- and producer- oriented marketing, and service strategies. Unprecedented group results were driven by sales to new large employers, a number of takeover cases, and successful re-enrollment efforts at existing clients.

About John Hancock Long-Term Care Insurance

John Hancock is one of the largest providers of LTC insurance overall with more than 1,000,000 LTC insurance clients and $1.4 billion of in-force LTC insurance premium. The company holds $8.1 billion in LTC reserves and has paid $1.8 billion in LTC insurance claims as of December 31, 2007.

Having entered the retail LTC insurance market in 1987, John Hancock is one of the largest carriers of individual coverage in the country. John Hancock began selling group LTC insurance in 1988 and today is the largest provider of employer-sponsored group LTC insurance in the U.S.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$396 billion (US$401 billion) as at December 31, 2007.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at http://www.manulife.com.

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

Long Term Care Insurance is underwritten by John Hancock Life Insurance Company, Boston, MA 02117

    (1) Survey Source: LIMRA International, U.S. Individual Long-Term Care
        Insurance Sales Survey, Fourth Quarter YTD 2007 results and U. S.
        Group Long-Term Care Insurance Sales Survey, Fourth Quarter YTD 2007
        results.