John Hancock Expands Protection Suite to Help Financial Professionals Support Evolving Long-Term Planning Needs
September 30, 2026 by John Hancock
BOSTON, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — John Hancock today expanded its protection portfolio with enhancements to both its protection indexed universal life solution (Protection IUL 26) and its term life insurance suite, expanding the range of options available for financial professionals to help address clients’ evolving long-term planning needs.
Aligned with the Company’s broader strategy to drive sustained, scalable growth in the U.S. insurance market and empower customer health, wealth, and financial well-being, the enhanced products strengthen John Hancock’s protection portfolio and give financial professionals more ways to reach prospects, address a broader range of client needs, and help customers build greater longevity preparedness to help them live longer, healthier, better lives.
As Americans live longer, the need for more choice and flexibility in long-term planning is greater than ever. John Hancock’s 2025 Longevity Preparedness Index, developed with the MIT AgeLab, found that U.S. adults scored an average 60 out of 100 in overall preparedness for longer lives. The findings reinforce that planning needs extend well beyond a single financial goal and can evolve across health, care, housing, community, and major life transitions—making access to a broader range of protection solutions increasingly important.*
“Financial plans are not one-size-fits-all. Today’s consumers want confidence that their protection strategy can help support their loved ones for the long term, while also providing opportunities for future value growth in a way that works for them and their loved ones,” said Hector Martinez, Head of Insurance, John Hancock. “With our enhanced protection portfolio, we are offering financial professionals a broader set of solutions to help them serve clients effectively and meaningfully over time with greater choice, growth potential, and future flexibility.”
The updated Protection IUL 26 solution puts choice in clients’ hands by giving financial professionals best-in-class optionality to introduce protection in the way that may best suit an individual’s preferences with new optional guarantees and indexed growth potential.
The enhanced term portfolio offers three options spanning cost effective protection-focused coverage and solutions with expanded conversion flexibility. These options enable financial professionals to better match coverage strategies to individual client goals and provide a clearer pathway from temporary protection to permanent insurance as needs change.
“Term insurance plays a critical role in giving clients protection options that align with their needs wherever they are on their planning journey. With these new enhancements, John Hancock is offering meaningful options for financial professionals to support their clients at any stage, with greater choice, flexibility, and continuity as needs evolve,” continued Martinez.
Through these solutions, eligible customers also get access to John Hancock’s industry-leading Vitality program, which offers tools, technology, education, and rewards designed to help members live longer, healthier, better lives while offering financial protection for those who matter most to them.
Learn more at www.johnhancock.com.
About John Hancock and Manulife
John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better by providing financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.
One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports more than ten million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance and annuities. John Hancock also supports US investors by bringing investment capabilities and retirement planning and administration expertise to individuals and institutions. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.
*The Longevity Preparedness Index was conducted online and by phone interview in English, sourced through the NORC AmeriSpeak Panel. The sample was a US representative sample comprised of 1,307 Americans, aged 18 and up, with specific oversamples of Non-Hispanic Black panelists, Hispanic panelists, and Non-Hispanic Asian American and Pacific Islander panelists to ensure adequate sample size for sub-group analysis. During analysis, survey responses were weighted to represent the US population. Survey data were collected from May 14th, 2025, to June 5th, 2025, with a median survey length of approximately 25 minutes per respondent. The Longevity Preparedness Index was developed in collaboration with MIT AgeLab and funded by John Hancock. John Hancock provided financial support for the research but did not influence the findings, methodology, or conclusions.
Guaranteed product features are dependent upon minimum premium requirements and the claims-paying ability of the issuer.
Protection IUL policies automatically include a no-lapse guarantee called the Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for a guarantee to life expectancy — or, if elected for an additional cost, an Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for extended guarantees, through age 100 or beyond. Both technically provide a guarantee to age 121 if enough premium is paid. Each of these options guarantees that the policy will not default, even if the cash surrender value falls to zero or below, provided that the Net Death Benefit Protection Value remains greater than zero and policy debt does not exceed the policy value. Once terminated, the Death Benefit Protection rider or Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider cannot be reinstated.
Some riders may have additional fees and expenses associated with them.
The life insurance policy describes coverage under the policy, exclusions and limitations, what you must do to keep your policy inforce, and what would cause your policy to be discontinued. Please contact your licensed agent or John Hancock for more information, costs, and complete details on coverage to help you determine if this policy is suitable for your needs. Availability of policies, features, and benefits may vary by state.
Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock.
Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states.
Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.
Policy Form: ICC25 26PIUL; 26PIUL
MLINY091026906-1
Media Contact: news@jhancock.com
SOURCE John Hancock
