Registration No. 333-85488

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

John Hancock Life Insurance Company

SignatureNotes

With Maturities of Twelve Months or More from Date of Issue

Pricing Supplement No. 216	Trade Date: 5/2/2005
(To Prospectus dated July 22, 2002 as supplemented by Prospectus Supplement dated January 10, 2003)	Issue Date: 5/5/2005

The date of this Pricing Supplement is May 2, 2005

CUSIP or Common Code:	41013NPS1	41013NPT9	41013NPU6	41013NPW2
Price to Public:	100.000%	100.000%	100.000%	100.000%
Principal Amount:	$366,000.00	$385,000.00	$168,000.00	$1,570,000.00
Proceeds to Issuer:	$363,712.50	$381,920.00	$166,320.00	$1,554,300.00
Discounts and Commissions:	0.625%	0.800%	1.000%	1.000%
Reallowance:	0.150%	0.150%	0.150%	0.150%
Dealer:	99.550%	99.375%	99.250%	99.250%
Maturity Date:	5/15/2008	5/15/2009	5/15/2010	5/15/2010
Stated Annual Interest Rate:	3.800%	4.000%	4.100%	4.300%
Interest Payment Frequency:	Monthly	Semi	Semi	Monthly
First Payment Date:	6/15/2005	11/15/2005	11/15/2005	6/15/2005
Additional Amounts:	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Survivor’s Option:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Callable by Issuer:	No	No	No	Yes
If Callable by Issuer, dates and terms of redemption (including the redemption price)	N/A	N/A	N/A	5/15/2007 Callable one time only at 100% on call date above with 30 days notice.
Original Issue Discount1:	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other Material Terms (if any):	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Effective April 7, 2003 the name of Solomon Smith Barney Inc., an agent of the program, was changed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

¹ For information regarding certain tax provisions applicable to Original Issue Discount notes, including zero-coupon notes, see “Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Original Issue Discount Notes” in the Prospectus.

Page 1 of 2

Registration No. 333-85488

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

John Hancock Life Insurance Company

SignatureNotes

With Maturities of Twelve Months or More from Date of Issue

Pricing Supplement No. 216	Trade Date: 5/2/2005
(To Prospectus dated July 22, 2002 as supplemented by Prospectus Supplement dated January 10, 2003)	Issue Date: 5/5/2005

The date of this Pricing Supplement is May 2, 2005

CUSIP or Common Code:	41013NPX0	41013NPZ5	41013NQA9
Price to Public:	100.000%	100.000%	100.000%
Principal Amount:	$90,000.00	$654,000.00	$1,534,000.00
Proceeds to Issuer:	$88,740.00	$640,920.00	$1,495,650.00
Discounts and Commissions:	1.400%	2.000%	2.500%
Reallowance:	0.200%	0.350%	0.350%
Dealer:	98.900%	98.350%	97.900%
Maturity Date:	5/15/2013	5/15/2020	5/15/2030
Stated Annual Interest Rate:	4.350%	5.050%	5.200%
Interest Payment Frequency:	Semi	Monthly	Monthly
First Payment Date:	11/15/2005	6/15/2005	6/15/2005
Additional Amounts:	N/A	N/A	N/A
Survivor’s Option:	Yes	Yes	Yes
Callable by Issuer:	No	Yes	Yes
If Callable by Issuer, dates and terms of redemption (including the redemption price)	N/A	5/15/2008 Callable one time only at 100% on call date above with 30 days notice.	5/15/2010 Callable one time only at 100% on call date above with 30 days notice.
Original Issue Discount2:	N/A	N/A	N/A
Other Material Terms (if any):	N/A	N/A	N/A

² For information regarding certain tax provisions applicable to Original Issue Discount notes, including zero-coupon notes, see “Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Original Issue Discount Notes” in the Prospectus.

Page 2 of 2