FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
                 ISSUED BY METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
                        SUPPLEMENT DATED MARCH 3, 1997
                                      TO
                         PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 1996
 
  This supplements the information contained in the prospectus ("Prospectus")
for Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policies, dated May 1, 1996 and
includes all prior Supplements to the Prospectus. You should keep this
Supplement to the Prospectus for future reference.
 
  1. The names of the following seven portfolios of the Metropolitan Series
Fund, Inc. ("Fund") and the corresponding divisions of Metropolitan Life
Separate Account UL have been changed wherever they appear in the Prospectus:
 


OLD PORTFOLIO AND
DIVISION NAME        NEW PORTFOLIO AND DIVISION NAME
- -----------------    -------------------------------
                  
Growth               State Street Research Growth
Income               State Street Research Income
Money Market         MetLife Money Market
Diversified          State Street Research Diversified
Aggressive Growth    State Street Research Aggressive Growth
Stock Index          MetLife Stock Index
International Stock  GFM International Stock

 
  2. Four new investment divisions that correspond to four new portfolios of
the Fund have been added. These divisions are the Loomis Sayles High Yield
Bond Division, the Janus Mid Cap Division, the T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth
Division, and the Scudder Global Equity Division. The accompanying prospectus
for the Fund describes the investment objectives and certain attendant risks
of these new portfolios. These investment divisions and corresponding
portfolios may not be available in all states. Consult a sales representative
registered with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ("Metropolitan Life") for
additional information. A brief summary of the investment objectives of these
new portfolios is set forth below:
 
  Loomis Sayles High Yield Bond Portfolio. This portfolio seeks high total
investment return through a combination of current income and capital
appreciation. The portfolio will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in
fixed income securities of below investment grade quality.
 
  T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio. This portfolio seeks long-term
capital growth by investing in small capitalization companies.
 
  Janus Mid Cap Portfolio. This portfolio is a non-diversified portfolio whose
investment objective is to provide long-term growth of capital. It pursues
this objective by investing primarily in securities issued by medium sized
companies.
 
  Scudder Global Equity Portfolio. This portfolio seeks long-term growth of
capital through a diversified portfolio of marketable securities, primarily
equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and debt
securities convertible into common stocks. The Portfolio invests on a
worldwide basis in equity securities of companies which are incorporated in
the U.S. or in foreign countries.
 
  Metropolitan Life is the investment manager of each of the new Portfolios of
the Fund. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., whose general partner is indirectly
owned by Metropolitan Life, is the sub-investment manager of the Loomis Sayles
High Yield Bond Portfolio. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is the sub-
investment manager of the T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio. Janus
Capital Corporation is the sub-investment manager of the Janus Mid Cap
Portfolio. Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. is the sub-investment manager for
the Scudder Global Equity Portfolio. Sub-investment manager fees are paid by
Metropolitan Life.

 
  For providing investment management services to the Fund, Metropolitan Life
receives a fee from the Fund as set forth in detail in the Fund prospectus.
The marginal fee rate for the T. Rowe Price Small Cap Portfolio, Janus Mid Cap
Portfolio and Scudder Global Equity Portfolio will decrease when the dollar
amount in each portfolio reaches certain threshold amounts. The maximum
investment management fees for the four new portfolios are equivalent to an
annual rate of: (1) .70% for the Loomis Sayles High Yield Bond Portfolio; (2)
 .55% for the T. Rowe Price Small Cap Growth Portfolio; (3) .75% for the Janus
Mid Cap Portfolio; and (4) .90% for the Scudder Global Equity Portfolio.
During the first year of operation, Metropolitan Life has agreed to waive a
certain portion of its fees with respect to the Scudder Global Equity
Portfolio. For more complete information about management fees, consult the
attached Fund prospectus.
 
  3. The addition of the new portfolios affects the total cash values and
total death benefits shown under "Illustrations of Death Benefit, Cash Values
and Accumulated Premiums" in the Prospectus since, using a simple average of
the eleven available portfolios of the Fund, assuming the maximum management
fees, the daily charge to the Fund for investment management services is
increased to the equivalent of a maximum annual rate of .513636% of the
average daily value of the aggregate net assets of the Fund. The result is
that the cash values will be less for death benefit options A, B and C. In
addition, if the minimum death benefit applies, the death benefit will be
lower for death benefit option A and death benefit option C. Also, in all
cases, the death benefit will be lower for death benefit option B. Upon
request, Metropolitan Life will provide a free, personalized hypothetical
illustration that reflects this change in the investment management fee
average.
 
  4. 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."
 
  5. 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.
 
  6. 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.
 
  7. 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.
 
  8. 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."
 
  9. 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.
 
  10. 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
 
 
[97021RMP(exp0597)MLIC-LD