John Hancock Enhances Hybrid Life Insurance Product, LifeCare, as Insurer's Longevity Preparedness Index Finds Most Adults Underprepared for Aging

BOSTON, Feb. 19, 2026 /CNW/ - John Hancock is announcing meaningful enhancements to LifeCare, its hybrid indexed universal life product with long-term care (LTC) benefits. LifeCare, which builds on John Hancock's commitment to helping people live longer, healthier, better lives, offers protection and flexibility to customers.

The enhancements follow John Hancock's recently released Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI), a new framework in collaboration with MIT AgeLab measuring Americans' readiness to thrive as they age, which revealed that while people are living longer, most are underprepared for the realities of aging across eight critical domains.¹ Respondents scored just a 64 (on a scale of 0 to 100) in the Finance domain and a 42 in Care, the lowest score of all eight domains in the LPI.¹ The LPI also found that few US adults know who will care for them as they age or how they will afford that care, and just 16 percent have planned with their family how they want to be cared for as they age.¹

"The inaugural Longevity Preparedness Index showed us that Americans are increasingly aware of the challenges of aging, but many still lack the education, resources and tools to prepare effectively and holistically," said Hector Martinez, Head of Insurance for John Hancock. "LifeCare is designed to help bridge the gaps that exist in longevity preparedness—providing growth potential and flexibility, while empowering people to gain more control with a life insurance product that protects what they've worked so hard to build and adapts to their care needs."

LifeCare is designed to provide benefits that have the opportunity to increase over time, offering a meaningful death benefit and guaranteed monthly long-term care benefits, both of which may increase based on increases in the policy's account value. LifeCare customers also have access to John Hancock Vitality^®, which provides education, resources, incentives and rewards that may help improve their health and longevity. Eligible John Hancock Vitality members also get access to innovative tools and technology, including GRAIL's multi-cancer early detection test, Galleri, and Prenuvo's whole-body MRI scan.

LifeCare features a fully digital application process and streamlined underwriting to simplify the purchase experience. Many customers may receive instant underwriting decisions and policies in fewer than seven days. At the time of a long-term care claim, LifeCare allows customers to choose the benefit payment structure that works best for them. For example, a policyholder could elect to receive benefits via indemnity up to the IRS per-diem limit and then elect reimbursement beyond that up to the policy limits, should they have additional expenses.

ICC25 LIFE-1700PR

"We are constantly seeking ways to provide coverage to as many clients as possible and offer them a streamlined underwriting decision and experience. LifeCare is a great example of this, where we have a range of risk classes available, even Preferred, and no paramedical exam or labs are required," said Martinez. "We're proud to bring LifeCare to market as a truly differentiated offering in the linked-benefit space. It offers strong value for the consumer and is another example of our commitment to helping people live longer, healthier, better lives."*

Learn more at www.johnhancock.com.

*Hector Martinez is a spokesperson for John Hancock and has a financial interest in the company as an officer and employee.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS THE SOLICITATION OF INSURANCE. CONTACT MAY BE MADE BY AN INSURANCE AGENT OR INSURANCE COMPANY.

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. LPI scores can range from 0 (not at all prepared for longevity) to 100 (completely prepared for longevity). The overall LPI is composed of 8 domains. Domain scores are each calculated independently and can range from 0 to 100. All eight domain scores were averaged to calculate the overall LPI score. Eight to 26 unique survey items are used to represent preparedness for each domain. Each domain captures positive behaviors toward longevity preparedness and awareness of the importance of a domain. Missing data were handled by imputation based on modal scores by age, gender, and income. Based on respondents aged 65-85, survey items were weighted to indicate their contribution to preparedness within a domain. Items with low weights were removed from score calculation. Behavioral scores (weight 75%) and awareness responses (weight 25%) were combined to create a domain score that can range from 0 to 100. 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.

The LifeCare Long-Term Care rider and the LifeCare Long-Term Care Inflation rider accelerate the death benefit for approved long term care expenses and, depending on the benefit period selected, also offer an extension of long-term care benefits after the death benefit has been fully accelerated. When the death benefit is accelerated for long-term care expenses, it is reduced dollar for dollar, and the cash value is reduced proportionately. The riders have a maximum monthly benefit amount and are subject to underwriting. The benefits provided by these riders are designed to be excludable from gross income under federal tax law; however, there might be situations in which the benefits or premiums for these riders are taxable. There are additional fixed premiums associated with these riders. The riders have exclusions and limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms under which the rider may be continued in force or discontinued. Please contact a licensed insurance producer or John Hancock for more information, cost, and complete details on coverage. John Hancock's long-term care riders are not Partnership Qualified products. For more information on Partnership Qualified products, please contact your state department of insurance.

The amount of benefits corresponds with the premium.

To be eligible for long-term care benefits, the insured must be a Chronically Ill individual due to cognitive impairment or the inability to perform at least 2 activities of daily living for at least 90 days, with qualified long-term care services provided pursuant to a plan of care prescribed by a licensed health care practitioner.

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.

Policy issuance is not guaranteed as any life insurance purchase is subject to completion of an application, including health questions, and underwriting approval. John Hancock may obtain additional information, including medical records, to evaluate the application for insurance; and after the policy is issued, to identify any misrepresentation in the application.

Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock. John Hancock Vitality Program rewards and discounts are available only to the person insured under the eligible life insurance policy, may vary based on the type of insurance policy purchased and the state where the policy was issued, are subject to change and are not guaranteed to remain the same for the life of the policy. To be eligible to earn rewards and discounts by participating in the Vitality program, the insured must register for Vitality and in most instances also complete the Vitality Health Review (VHR).

The Galleri test is only available to registered John Hancock Vitality PLUS members who are 40 years of age or older and have completed the initial Vitality Health Review (VHR). For eligible polices with Face Amounts of $500,000 or greater in life insurance coverage, 100% of the cost of the test will be subsidized. For policies with Face Amounts less than $500,000 in life insurance coverage, 50% of the cost of the test will be subsidized. Test eligibility is also subject to Grail's clinically informed criteria, as well as additional cancer risk factors for those ages 40-49. The Galleri test is manufactured and distributed by GRAIL,LLC. John Hancock does not provide medical advice, is not involved in the design or manufacture of the Galleri test and is not responsible for the accuracy or performance of the Galleri test.

Discounted access to the Prenuvo scan is only available to registered John Hancock Vitality PLUS and GO members who have completed the Vitality Health Review (VHR) for the current program year. The Prenuvo scan is developed and administered by Prenuvo and its affiliated professional entities. John Hancock does not provide medical advice or guidance on further diagnostic testing or treatment following the Prenuvo scan, is not involved in the design or administration of the Prenuvo scan and is not responsible for the accuracy or performance of the Prenuvo scan.

Products or services offered under the Vitality Program are not insurance and are subject to change. There may be additional costs associated with these products or services and there are additional requirements associated with participation in the program. For more information, please contact the company at JohnHancock.com or via telephone at 888-333-2659.

Guaranteed product features are dependent upon minimum premium requirements and the claims-paying ability of the issuer.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states. Some riders have additional premiums and expenses associated with them.

Insurance products are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116.

Media Contact: news@jhancock.com

[MLI120425018-1]

ICC25 LIFE-1700PR

Policy Form Series:
[ICC24 24LifeCare; 24LifeCare]

Rider Form Series:
[ICC24 24LTCR-NIP; 24LTCR-NIP,]
[ICC24 24LTCR-IP; 24LTCR-IP,]
[ICC24 24HEBR; 24HEBR]

SOURCE John Hancock