SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                        Date of Report: November 14, 2002
                        (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

                       JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                        Commission File Number: 333-45862

          MASSACHUSETTS                                   04-1414660
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation  or organization)


                               John Hancock Place
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02117
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (617) 572-6000
                         (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)




Item 5.           Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure


On November 14, 2002, Moody's Investors Services announced that it lowered from
Aa2 to Aa3 its insurance financial strength rating for John Hancock Life
Insurance Company, and lowered its senior debt rating from Aa3 to A1 and its
surplus note rating from A1 to A2. The ratings outlooks are stable.




                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                     JOHN HANCOCK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


Date:     November  15, 2002         By:    /s/ Thomas E. Moloney
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Thomas E. Moloney
                                            Senior Executive Vice President and
                                            Chief Financial Officer