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                     ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK

                    INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY ENDORSEMENT


This endorsement is part of the Contract. The Contract, as amended, is intended
to qualify as an individual retirement annuity under Section 408(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). The following provisions replace any
contrary provisions of the Contract:

1.   The Owner shall be the Annuitant. Any provision of the Contract that would
     allow joint ownership, or that would allow more than one person to share
     distributions, is deleted.

2.   The Contract is not transferable or assignable (other than pursuant to a
     divorce or separation instrument in accordance with Code Section 408(d)(6))
     and is established for the exclusive benefit of the Owner and his or her
     Beneficiaries. It may not be sold, assigned, alienated or pledged as
     security for a loan or other obligation.

3.   The Owner's entire interest in the Contract shall be nonforfeitable.

4.   Premium payments shall be in cash. The following purchase payments shall be
     accepted under this Contract:
          a. Rollover contributions described in Code Sections 402(c),
             403(a)(4), 403(b)(8) and 408(d)(3),

          b. Amounts transferred from another individual retirement account or
             annuity, and

          c. Contributions made pursuant to a Simplified Employee Pension as
             provided in Code Section 408(k), up to the limits specified in
             Code Section 408(j).

     The Owner must determine whether any premium payment qualifies as a
     permissible contribution subject to favorable tax treatment under the Code.
     The Owner must also determine whether such amount qualifies as a
     permissible rollover contribution for income tax purposes.

5.   This Contract does not require fixed premium payments. Any refund of
     premiums (other than excess contributions) will be applied before the
     close of the calendar year following the year of the refund toward the
     payment of additional premiums or the purchase of additional benefits.

6.   If this Contract is used in conjunction with a SEP-IRA plan under section
     408(k) of the Code, the annuity option tables attached to this endorsement
     shall be substituted for the tables set forth in the Contract.

7.   The Annuity Date is the date the Owner's entire Contract Value will be
     distributed or commence to be distributed. The Annuity Date shall be no
     later than April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in
     which the Owner attains age 70 1/2.

8.   Any amounts payable during the Owner's lifetime shall commence on or before
     the Annuity Date and shall be payable in substantially equal amounts, at
     least annually. Payment shall be made as follows:

          a. in a lump sum, or

          b. over the Owner's life, or

          c. over the lives of the Owner and his or her designated Beneficiary,
             or

          d. over a period certain not exceeding the Owner's life expectancy, or

          e. over a period certain not exceeding the joint and last survivor
             life expectancy of the Owner and his or her designated Beneficiary.


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     If the Owner's entire interest is to be distributed in other than a lump
     sum, then the minimum amount to be distributed each year (commencing with
     the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Owner attains
     age 70 1/2 and each year thereafter) shall be determined in accordance with
     Code Section 408(b)(3) and the regulations thereunder, including the
     incidental death benefit requirement of Code Section 401(a)(9)(G), the
     regulations thereunder, and the minimum distribution incidental death
     benefit requirement of Proposed Income Tax Regulation Section
     1.401(a)(9)-2. Payments must be either nonincreasing or may increase only
     as provided in Proposed Income Tax Regulation Section 1.401(a)(9)-1, Q&A
     F-3. It is the Owner's responsibility to make sure that the required
     minimum distribution is taken in a timely manner and that the correct
     amount is distributed.

9.   If the Owner dies after distribution of his or her interest has commenced,
     the remaining portion of such interest will continue to be distributed at
     least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used prior to
     his or her death.

     If the Owner dies before distribution has begun, the entire interest must
     be distributed no later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the
     fifth anniversary of the Owner's death occurs. However, proceeds which are
     payable to a named Beneficiary who is a natural person may be distributed
     in substantially equal installments over the lifetime of the Beneficiary or
     a period certain not exceeding the life expectancy of the Beneficiary
     provided such distribution begins not later than December 31 of the
     calendar year immediately following the calendar year of the Owner's death.
     If the Beneficiary is the Owner's surviving spouse, the Beneficiary may
     elect not later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the fifth
     anniversary of the Owner's death to receive equal payments over the life or
     life expectancy of the surviving spouse commencing at any date prior to the
     date on which the Owner would have attained age 70 1/2. Minimum payments
     will be calculated in accordance with Code Section 408(b)(3).

     Any amount paid to any of the Owner's children will be treated as if it had
     been paid to the surviving spouse if the remainder of the interest becomes
     payable to the surviving spouse when the child reaches the age of majority.

     If the Owner dies before his or her entire interest has been distributed,
     no additional premiums will be accepted under this policy after his or her
     death unless the Beneficiary is the Owner's surviving spouse.

10.  If the Owner's spouse is not the named Beneficiary, the method of
     distribution selected will assure that at least 50% of the present value of
     the amount available for distribution is paid within the Owner's life
     expectancy and that such method of distribution complies with Code Section
     408(b)(3).

11.  Life expectancy and joint and last survivor expectancy shall be determined
     by use of the expected return multiples in Tables V and VI of Treasury
     Regulation Section 1.72-9 in accordance with Code Section 408(b)(3). In the
     case of distributions under paragraph (8) of this endorsement, the life
     expectancy of the Owner and his or her Beneficiary will be initially
     determined on the basis of his or her attained age in the year the Owner
     reaches 70 1/2. In the case of a distribution under paragraph (9) of this
     endorsement, life expectancy will be initially determined on the basis of
     the Beneficiary's attained age in the year distributions begin. If the
     Owner (or his or her spouse) so elects prior to the time distributions
     begin, the Owner's life expectancy and, if applicable, his or her spouse's
     life expectancy will be recalculated annually based on the Owner's attained
     age(s) in the year for which the required distribution is being determined.
     The life expectancy of a nonspouse Beneficiary will not be recalculated.


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     The annual distribution required to be made by the Annuity Date is for the
     calendar year in which the Owner reaches 70 1/2. Annual payments for
     subsequent years, including the year in which the Annuity Date occurs, must
     be made by December 31 of that year. The amount distributed for each year
     shall equal or exceed the Contract Value as of the close of business on
     December 31 of the preceding year, divided by the applicable life
     expectancy or joint and last survivor life expectancy.

12.  This endorsement is intended to qualify the Contract under the provisions
     of Code Section 408 for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of the
     Contract in conjunction with the provisions of this endorsement are to be
     interpreted to maintain such qualification, notwithstanding any other
     provisions to the contrary. We reserve the right to amend or modify the
     Contract or this endorsement to the extent necessary to comply with any
     law, regulation, ruling or other requirement necessary to establish or
     maintain the tax advantages available to an individual retirement annuity
     under Code Section 408(b) and any other applicable law. We will send you a
     copy of any such amendment to this endorsement. The Owner is responsible
     for determining that premiums, distributions, and other transactions under
     the Contract comply with applicable law.

13.  This endorsement is effective as the Contract Date.


                                           ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK



                                           By: /s/ Barry G. Skolnick
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                       Secretary


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