METROPOLITAN LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT UL
               FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
                 ISSUED BY METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
                       SUPPLEMENT DATED JANUARY 10, 1997
                                      TO
                         PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1996
 
  This supplements the information contained in the prospectus ("Prospectus")
of Metropolitan Life Separate Account UL ("Separate Account"), dated May 1,
1996, relating to certain flexible premium variable life insurance policies
("Policies"). You should keep this Supplement to the Prospectus for future
reference. (You may obtain an additional copy of the Prospectus, free of
charge, if you write to or call Metropolitan Life Insurance Company at the
address or telephone number set out below.)
 
  1. The second sentence under the definition of Target Premium on page 4 of
the Prospectus is replaced with the following:
 
  "For Policies issued on or after May 1, 1996, in connection with other than
  large groups, 100% of the estimated annual amount that satisfies the 7-Pay
  test based on the issue age of the insured and the specified face amount of
  insurance and standard underwriting class, as established as of the Date of
  Policy. For such Policies issued in connection with other than large
  groups, the target premium amount is increased and decreased
  proportionately for increases and decreases in the specified face amount."
 
  2. The following replaces subsection (2) in the first sentence of the first
paragraph under "Policy Benefits--Minimum Death Benefit" on page 11 of the
Prospectus:
 
  (2) a percentage of cash value as computed pursuant to the Cash Value
  Accumulation test formula below and generally reflected in Table II below,
  or, for Policies issued in connection with large groups and depending which
  form of Policy is elected, a percentage of cash value set forth in Table I
  below.
 
  3. The following replaces the second, third and fourth sentences in the
first paragraph under "Policy Benefits--Minimum Death Benefit" on pages 11 and
12 of the Prospectus:
 
  For Policies issued in connection with large groups, the standard Policy
  contains a minimum death benefit determined under Table I. If the Policy
  owner elects a Policy with a special endorsement, the death benefit will be
  determined in accordance with the terms of the endorsement which is
  generally reflected in Table II. Any discussion of Table I in the
  Prospectus is applicable only to Policies issued in connection with large
  groups.
 
  4. The following is added after the fourth paragraph under "Cash Value--
Illustrations" on page 19 of the Prospectus and replaces the fourth and fifth
paragraphs under "Illustrations of Death Benefits and Cash Values and
Accumulated Premiums" on page 31 of the Prospectus:
 
  The guaranteed charges illustrations assume: (1) a cost of insurance rate
  equal to 100% of the maximum rates that could be charged based on the 1980
  Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality tables; (2) a sales charge of 9%
  of premiums paid up to one target premium in each of the first ten policy
  years and 3% of premiums paid up to one target premium in each Policy year
  thereafter; (3) an administrative charge of 1.05% of premiums paid up to
  one target premium and .05% for amounts in excess of one target premium in
  all Policy years; (4) a 1.2% DAC tax charge; (5) a 2.25% state premium tax
  charge; and (6) a mortality and expense risk charge of .90% of the average
  daily value of the assets in the Separate Account attributable to the
  Policies.

 
  The current charges illustrations assume: (1) the current cost of insurance
  rate; (2) a sales charge of 9% of premiums paid up to one target premium in
  each of the first ten policy years and 0% of premiums paid up to one target
  premium in each Policy year thereafter; (3) an administrative charge of
  1.05% of premiums paid up to one target premium and .05% of premiums paid
  in excess of one target premium in Policy years one through ten; and .05%
  of all premiums paid in Policy years eleven and after; (4) a 1.2% DAC tax
  charge; (5) a 2.25% state premium tax charge; and (6) a mortality and
  expense risk charge of .60% (.30% after the ninth Policy year) of the
  average daily value of the assets in the Separate Account attributable to
  the Policies.
 
  5. The following is added as the second to the last sentence of the first
paragraph under "Payment and Allocation of Premiums--Premium Limitations" on
page 25 of the Prospectus:
 
  "Premium Payments that cause the minimum death benefit as described under
  "Policy Benefits--Minimum Death Benefit" above to exceed the death benefit
  then in effect under the death benefit option chosen may require evidence
  of insurability satisfactory to Metropolitan Life, in order to be
  accepted."
 
  6. The following replaces the first sentence in the second paragraph under
"Charges and Deductions--Sales Load" on page 28 of the Prospectus:
 
  For Policies issued in connection with groups other than large groups, if a
  Policy is surrendered at any time during the first three Policy years, any
  sales load deducted within 365 days prior to the date the request for
  surrender is received at Metropolitan Life's Designated Office will be
  refunded.
 
  7. The last parenthetical in the first sentence of the third paragraph under
"Illustrations of Death Benefits and Cash Values and Accumulated Premiums on
page 31 of the Prospectus is deleted.
 
 
 
                      Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
                              One Madison Avenue
                              New York, NY 10010
                                (908) 602-6400