<PAGE>
 
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
MAILING ADDRESS:      STREET ADDRESS:                 PHONE: 1-800-745-8248
P.O. BOX 3249         220 SALINA MEADOWS PARKWAY
SYRACUSE              SUITE 255
NEW YORK 13220        SYRACUSE
                      NEW YORK 13212
 
This prospectus describes flexible premium deferred combination variable and
fixed annuity contracts issued by First Fortis Life Insurance Company ("First
Fortis").
 
These contracts allow you to accumulate funds on a tax-deferred basis. You may
elect a guaranteed interest accumulation option through a fixed account or a
variable return accumulation option through a separate account, or a combination
of these two options. Under the guaranteed interest accumulation option, you can
choose among ten different guarantee periods, each of which has its own interest
rate which is guaranteed for the entire guarantee period.
 
Under the variable return accumulation option, you can choose among the
following investment portfolios of Fortis Series Fund:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                  <C>
Money Market Series                  S&P 500 Index Series
U.S. Government Securities Series    Blue Chip Stock Series
Diversified Income Series            Global Growth Series
Global Bond Series                   Growth Stock Series
High Yield Series                    International Stock Series
Asset Allocation Series              Aggressive Growth Series
Global Asset Allocation Series       Small Cap Value Series
Value Series                         Mid Cap Stock Series
Growth & Income Series               Large Cap Growth Series
</TABLE>
 
                       The accompanying prospectus for these investment
                       portfolios describes the investment objectives, policies
                       and risks of each of the portfolios.
 
                       This prospectus gives you information about the contracts
                       that you should know before investing. This prospectus
                       must be accompanied by a current prospectus of the
                       available investment portfolios. These prospectuses
                       should be read carefully and kept for future reference.
 
                       A Statement of Additional Information, dated May 1, 1999,
                       about certain aspects of the contracts has been filed
                       with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is
                       available without charge, from First Fortis at the
                       address and phone number printed above. The Table of
                       Contents for the Statement of Additional Information
                       appears on page 23 of this prospectus.
 
                        THESE CONTRACTS ARE NOT OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED OR
                        ENDORSED BY, ANY BANK, CREDIT UNION, BROKER-DEALER, OR
                        OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. THEY ARE NOT FEDERALLY
                        INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION,
                        THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY. THEY
                        INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF
                        PRINCIPAL.
 
                        NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY
                        STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
                        OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR
                        ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                        CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
FIRST FORTIS
MASTERS
VARIABLE
ANNUITY
 
Flexible
Premium Deferred
 
Combination Variable and
Fixed Annuity Contracts
 
PROSPECTUS DATED
May 1, 1999
 
      [LOGO]
 
97104 (Ed. 5/98)
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        PAGE
<S>                                                                     <C>
Special Terms Used in this Prospectus.................................     3
Information Concerning Fees and Charges...............................     4
Summary of Contract Features..........................................     6
First Fortis Life Insurance Company...................................     8
The Variable Account..................................................     8
Series Fund...........................................................     9
The Fixed Account.....................................................     9
    - Guaranteed Interest Rates/Guarantee Periods.....................     9
    - Market Value Adjustment.........................................     9
    - Investments by First Fortis.....................................    10
Accumulation Period...................................................    11
    - Issuance of a Contract and Purchase Payments....................    11
    - Contract Value..................................................    11
    - Allocation of Purchase Payments and Contract Value..............    12
    - Total and Partial Surrenders....................................    13
    - Telephone Transactions..........................................    13
    - Benefit Payable on Death of Annuitant or Contract Owner.........    13
The Annuity Period....................................................    14
    - Annuity Commencement Date.......................................    14
    - Commencement of Annuity Payments................................    14
    - Relationship Between Subaccount Investment Performance and
       Amount of Variable Annuity Payments............................    14
    - Annuity Options.................................................    15
    - Death of Annuitant or Other Payee...............................    15
Charges and Deductions................................................    15
    - Premium Taxes...................................................    15
    - Charges Against the Variable Account............................    15
    - Tax Charge......................................................    16
    - Surrender Charge................................................    16
    - Miscellaneous...................................................    16
    - Reduction of Charges............................................    16
General Provisions....................................................    17
    - The Contracts...................................................    17
    - Postponement of Payment.........................................    17
    - Misstatement of Age or Sex and Other Errors.....................    17
    - Assignment......................................................    17
    - Beneficiary.....................................................    17
    - Reports.........................................................    17
Rights Reserved by First Fortis.......................................    17
Distribution..........................................................    18
Federal Tax Matters...................................................    18
Further Information About First Fortis................................    21
    - General.........................................................    21
    - Ownership of Securities.........................................    21
    - Selected Financial Data.........................................    21
    - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
       Results of Operations..........................................    21
    - Market Risk.....................................................    23
Voting Privileges.....................................................    23
Legal Matters.........................................................    24
Other Information.....................................................    24
Contents of Statement of Additional Information.......................    24
First Fortis Financial Statements.....................................    24
Appendix A--Sample Market Value Adjustment Calculations...............   A-1
Appendix B--Sample Death Benefit Calculations.........................   B-1
Appendix C--Explanation of Expense Calculations.......................   C-1
</TABLE>
 
THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL STATES. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT
LAWFULLY BE MADE. FIRST FORTIS DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANY INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATION REGARDING THE OFFERING DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS WHICH IS NOT
INCLUDED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE RELATED STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR
ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO OR IN ANY SUPPLEMENTAL SALES MATERIAL AUTHORIZED BY
FIRST FORTIS.
<PAGE>
SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
 
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>
Accumulation     The time period under a contract between the contract issue date and the annuity commencement
Period           date.
Accumulation     A unit of measure used to calculate a contract owner's interest in the Variable Account during
Unit             the Accumulation Period.
Annuitant        A person during whose life annuity payments are to be made by First Fortis under the contract.
Annuity Period   The time period following the Accumulation Period, during which annuity payments are made by
                 First Fortis.
Annuity Unit     A unit of measurement used to calculate variable annuity payments.
Fixed Annuity    An annuity option under which First Fortis promises to pay the Annuitant or any other payee
Option           that you designate one or more fixed payments.
Market Value     Positive or negative adjustment in fixed account value that we make if such value is paid out
Adjustment       more than fifteen days before or after the end of a guarantee period in which it was being
                 held.
Non-Qualified    Contracts that do not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment applicable in
Contracts        connection with certain retirement plans.
Qualified        Contracts that are qualified for the special federal income tax treatment applicable in
Contracts        connection with certain retirement plans.
Series Fund      Fortis Series Fund, Inc., a diversified, open-end management investment company in which the
                 Variable Account invests.
Seven Year       The seventh anniversary of a contract issue date, and each subsequent seventh anniversary of
Anniversary      that date.
Valuation Date   All business days except, with respect to any subaccount, days on which the related portfolio
                 does not value its shares. Generally, the portfolios value their shares on each day the New
                 York Stock Exchange is open.
Valuation        The period that starts at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a
Period           Valuation Date and ends at the close of regular trading on the exchange on the next succeeding
                 Valuation Date.
Variable         The segregated asset account referred to as Variable Account A of First Fortis Life Insurance
Account          Company established to receive and invest purchase payments under contracts.
Variable         An annuity option under which First Fortis promises to pay the Annuitant or any other payee
Annuity Option   chosen by you one or more payments which vary in amount in accordance with the net investment
                 experience of the subaccounts selected by the Annuitant.
</TABLE>
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONCERNING FEES AND CHARGES
 
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
       Front-End Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases......................................................          0%
       Maximum Surrender Charge for Sales Expenses......................................................          7%(1)
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NUMBER OF YEARS       SURRENDER CHARGE AS A
   SINCE PURCHASE       PERCENTAGE OF PURCHASE
PAYMENT WAS CREDITED           PAYMENT
--------------------  --------------------------
<S>                   <C>
    Less than 1                       7%
At least 1 but less
       than 2                         6%
At least 2 but less
       than 3                         5%
At least 3 but less
       than 4                         4%
At least 4 but less
       than 5                         3%
At least 5 but less
       than 6                         2%
At least 6 but less
       than 7                         1%
     7 or more                        0%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>
       Other Surrender Fees............................................................................          0%
       Exchange Fee....................................................................................          0%
ANNUAL CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION CHARGE..................................................................  $       0
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VARIABLE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
 (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE ACCOUNT VALUE)
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
       Mortality and Expense Risk Charge..............................................................       1.25%
       Variable Account Administrative Charge.........................................................        .10%
                                                                                                              ---
         Total Variable Account Annual Expenses.......................................................       1.35%
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
(1)  This charge does not apply in certain cases such as partial surrenders each
     year of up to 10% of "new purchase payments" as defined under the heading
     "Surrender Charge," or payment of a death benefit.
 
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT WITH RESPECT TO FIXED ACCOUNT
 
Surrenders and other withdrawals from the fixed account more than fifteen days
from the end of a guarantee period are subject to a Market Value Adjustment. The
Market Value Adjustment may increase or reduce the fixed account value. It is
computed pursuant to a formula that is described in more detail under "Market
Value Adjustment."
 
SERIES FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       U.S. GOVERNMENT
                                                        MONEY MARKET     SECURITIES      DIVERSIFIED   GLOBAL BOND  HIGH YIELD
                                                           SERIES          SERIES       INCOME SERIES    SERIES       SERIES
                                                        -------------  ---------------  -------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                     <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>          <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
 
<CAPTION>
                                                         GLOBAL ASSET
                                                          ALLOCATION
                                                            SERIES
                                                        ---------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             ASSET                                   S&P 500
                                                          ALLOCATION       VALUE      GROWTH &        INDEX       BLUE CHIP
                                                            SERIES        SERIES    INCOME SERIES    SERIES     STOCK SERIES
                                                        ---------------  ---------  -------------  -----------  -------------
<S>                                                     <C>              <C>        <C>            <C>          <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
 
<CAPTION>
                                                        INTERNATIONAL
                                                        STOCK SERIES
                                                        -------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        SMALL CAP
                                                        MID CAP STOCK     VALUE     GLOBAL GROWTH    LARGE CAP    GROWTH STOCK
                                                           SERIES        SERIES        SERIES      GROWTH SERIES     SERIES
                                                        -------------  -----------  -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                     <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
 
<CAPTION>
                                                         AGGRESSIVE
                                                        GROWTH SERIES
                                                        -------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Investment Advisory and Management Fee................
Other Expenses........................................
Total Series Fund Operating Expenses..................
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
(a)  As a percentage of Series average net assets based on 1998 historical data.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
EXAMPLES*
 
If you SURRENDER your contract in full at the end of any of the time periods
shown below, you would pay the following cumulative expenses on a $1,000
investment, assuming a 5% annual return on assets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF ALL AMOUNTS ARE INVESTED IN ONE PORTFOLIO:                                              1 YEAR       3 YEARS      5 YEARS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                                      <C>          <C>          <C>
Money Market Series....................................................................
U.S. Government Securities Series......................................................
Diversified Income Series..............................................................
Global Bond Series.....................................................................
High Yield Series......................................................................
Global Asset Allocation Series.........................................................
Asset Allocation Series................................................................
Value Series...........................................................................
Growth & Income Series.................................................................
S&P 500 Index Series...................................................................
Blue Chip Stock Series.................................................................
International Stock Series.............................................................
Mid Cap Stock Series...................................................................
Small Cap Value Series.................................................................
Global Growth Series...................................................................
Large Cap Growth Series................................................................
Growth Stock Series....................................................................
Aggressive Growth Series...............................................................
 
<CAPTION>
IF ALL AMOUNTS ARE INVESTED IN ONE PORTFOLIO:                                             10 YEARS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                                      <C>
Money Market Series....................................................................
U.S. Government Securities Series......................................................
Diversified Income Series..............................................................
Global Bond Series.....................................................................
High Yield Series......................................................................
Global Asset Allocation Series.........................................................
Asset Allocation Series................................................................
Value Series...........................................................................
Growth & Income Series.................................................................
S&P 500 Index Series...................................................................
Blue Chip Stock Series.................................................................
International Stock Series.............................................................
Mid Cap Stock Series...................................................................
Small Cap Value Series.................................................................
Global Growth Series...................................................................
Large Cap Growth Series................................................................
Growth Stock Series....................................................................
Aggressive Growth Series...............................................................
</TABLE>
 
If you COMMENCE AN ANNUITY PAYMENT OPTION, or do NOT surrender your contract,
you would pay the following cumulative expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming
a 5% annual return on assets:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IF ALL AMOUNTS ARE INVESTED IN ONE PORTFOLIO:                                              1 YEAR       3 YEARS      5 YEARS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                                      <C>          <C>          <C>
Money Market Series....................................................................
U.S. Government Securities Series......................................................
Diversified Income Series..............................................................
Global Bond Series.....................................................................
High Yield Series......................................................................
Global Asset Allocation Series.........................................................
Asset Allocation Series................................................................
Value Series...........................................................................
Growth & Income Series.................................................................
S&P 500 Index Series...................................................................
Blue Chip Stock Series.................................................................
International Stock Series.............................................................
Mid Cap Stock Series...................................................................
Small Cap Value Series.................................................................
Global Growth Series...................................................................
Large Cap Growth Series................................................................
Growth Stock Series....................................................................
Aggressive Growth Series...............................................................
 
<CAPTION>
IF ALL AMOUNTS ARE INVESTED IN ONE PORTFOLIO:                                             10 YEARS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                                      <C>
Money Market Series....................................................................
U.S. Government Securities Series......................................................
Diversified Income Series..............................................................
Global Bond Series.....................................................................
High Yield Series......................................................................
Global Asset Allocation Series.........................................................
Asset Allocation Series................................................................
Value Series...........................................................................
Growth & Income Series.................................................................
S&P 500 Index Series...................................................................
Blue Chip Stock Series.................................................................
International Stock Series.............................................................
Mid Cap Stock Series...................................................................
Small Cap Value Series.................................................................
Global Growth Series...................................................................
Large Cap Growth Series................................................................
Growth Stock Series....................................................................
Aggressive Growth Series...............................................................
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
*    Does not include the effect of any Market Value Adjustment.
 
THE EXAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES, AND ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
 
                            ------------------------
 
The foregoing tables and examples are included to assist you in understanding
the transaction and operating expenses imposed directly or indirectly under the
contracts and Series Fund. Amounts for state premium taxes or similar
assessments will also be deducted, where applicable.
 
See Appendix C for an explanation of the calculation of the amounts set forth
above.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT FEATURES
 
The following summary should be read in conjunction with the detailed
information in this prospectus.
 
The contracts are designed to provide individuals with retirement benefits
through the accumulation of purchase payments on a fixed or variable basis, and
by the application of such accumulations to provide fixed or variable annuity
payments.
 
"We," "our," and "us" mean First Fortis Life Insurance Company. "You" and "your"
mean a reader of this prospectus who is contemplating making purchase payments
or taking any other action in connection with a contract.
 
Depending on the state that you live in, the contract that is issued to you may
be as a part of a group contract or as an individual contract. Participation in
a group contract will be evidenced by the issuance of a certificate showing your
interest under the group contract. In other states, an individual contract will
be issued to you. Both the certificate and the contract are referred to as a
"contract" in this prospectus.
 
FREE LOOK
 
You have the right to examine a contract during a "free look" period after you
receive the contract and return it for a refund of the amount of the then
current contract value. However, in certain states where required by state law
the refund will be in the amount of all purchase payments that have been made,
without interest or appreciation of depreciation. The "free look" period is
generally 10 days unless a longer time is specified on the face page of your
contract.
 
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
The initial purchase payment under a contract must be at least $5,000 ($2,000
for a contract which is part of a qualified plan). Additional purchase payments
under a contract must be at least $50. See "Issuance of a Contract and Purchase
Payments."
 
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
On the date that the contract is issued, the initial purchase payment is
allocated, as specified by you in the contract application, among one or more of
the portfolios, or to one or more of the guarantee periods in the fixed account,
or to a combination thereof. Subsequent purchase payments are allocated in the
same way, or pursuant to different allocation percentages that the you may
request in writing.
 
VARIABLE ACCOUNT INVESTMENT OPTIONS
 
Each of the subaccounts of the Variable Account invests in shares of a
corresponding portfolio of Series Fund. Contract value in each of the
subaccounts of the Variable Account will vary to reflect the investment
experience of each of the corresponding portfolios, as well as deductions for
certain charges.
 
Each portfolio has a separate and distinct investment objective and is managed
by Fortis Advisers, Inc or a subadviser of Fortis Advisers, Inc. A full
description of the portfolios and their investment objectives, policies, risks
and expenses can be found in the current prospectus for Series Fund, which
accompanies this prospectus, and Series Fund Statement of Additional Information
which is available upon request from First Fortis at the address and phone
number on the cover of this prospectus.
 
FIXED ACCOUNT INVESTMENT OPTIONS
 
Any amount allocated by the contract owner to the fixed account earns a
guaranteed interest rate. The level of the guaranteed interest rate depends on
the length of the guarantee period selected by the contract owner. We currently
make available ten different guarantee periods, ranging from one to ten years.
 
If amounts are transferred, surrendered or otherwise paid out more than fifteen
days before or after the end of the applicable guarantee period, a Market Value
Adjustment will be applied to increase or decrease the amount of fixed account
value that is paid out. Accordingly, the Market Value Adjustment can result in
gains or losses to you.
 
For a more complete discussion of the fixed account investment options and the
Market Value Adjustment, see "The Fixed Account."
 
TRANSFERS
 
During the Accumulation Period, you can transfer all or part of your contract
value from one subaccount to another or into the fixed account and, subject to
any Market Value Adjustment, from one guarantee period to another or into a
subaccount. There is currently no charge for these transfers. We reserve the
right to restrict the frequency of or otherwise condition, terminate, or impose
charges upon, transfers from a subaccount during the Accumulation Period. During
the Annuity Period the person receiving annuity payments may make up to four
transfers (but not from a Fixed Annuity Option) during each year of the Annuity
Period. For a description of certain limitations on transfer rights, see
"Allocations of Purchase Payments and Contract Value--Transfers."
 
TOTAL OR PARTIAL SURRENDERS
 
Subject to certain conditions, all or part of the contract value may be
surrendered by you before the earlier of the Annuitant's death or the annuity
commencement date. Amounts surrendered may be subject to a surrender charge and,
in addition, amounts surrendered from the fixed account may be subject to a
Market Value Adjustment. See "Total and Partial Surrenders," "Surrender Charge"
and "Market Value Adjustment." Particular attention should be paid to the tax
implications of any surrender, including possible penalties for premature
distributions. See "Federal Tax Matters."
 
ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
The contract provides several types of annuity benefits to you or other persons
you properly designate to receive such payments, including Fixed and Variable
Annuity Options. The contract owner has considerable flexibility in choosing the
annuity commencement date. However, the tax implications of an annuity
commencement date must be carefully considered, including the possibility of
penalties for commencing benefits either too soon or too late. See "Annuity
Commencement Date," "Annuity Options" and "Federal Tax Matters" in this
prospectus and "Taxation Under Certain Retirement Plans" in the Statement of
Additional Information.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
DEATH BENEFIT
 
In the event that the Annuitant or contract owner dies prior to the annuity
commencement date, a death benefit is payable. See "Benefit Payable on Death of
Annuitant or Contract Owner."
 
LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY RETIREMENT PLANS AND EMPLOYERS
 
Certain rights you would otherwise have under a contract may be limited by the
terms of any applicable employee benefit plan. These limitations may restrict
such things as total and partial surrenders, the amount or timing of purchase
payments that may be made, when annuity payments must start and the type of
annuity options that may be selected. Accordingly, you should familiarize
yourself with these and all other aspects of any retirement plan in connection
with which a contract is issued.
 
The record owner of contracts may be an employer (or the employer's designee) in
connection with an employee benefit plan. In the latter cases, certain rights
that a contract owner otherwise would have under a contract may be reserved
instead by the employer.
 
TAX IMPLICATIONS
 
The tax implications for you or any other persons who may receive payments under
a contract, and those of any related employee benefit plan can be quite
important. A brief discussion of some of these is set out under "Federal Tax
Matters" in this prospectus and "Taxation Under Certain Retirement Plans" in the
Statement of Additional Information, but such discussion is not comprehensive.
Therefore, you should consider these matters carefully and consult a qualified
tax adviser before making purchase payments or taking any other action in
connection with a contract or any related employee benefit plan. Failure to do
so could result in serious adverse tax consequences which might otherwise have
been avoided.
 
QUESTIONS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
 
Any question about procedures of the contract should be directed to your sales
representative, or First Fortis' home office: P.O. Box 3249, Syracuse, NY 13220;
1-800-745-8248. Purchase payments and written requests should be mailed or
delivered to the same home office address. All communications should include the
contract number, the contract owner's name and, if different, the Annuitant's
name. The number for telephone transfers is 1-800-745-8248.
 
Any purchase payment or other communication, except a 10-day cancellation
notice, is deemed received at First Fortis' home office on the actual date of
receipt there in proper form unless received (1) after the close of regular
trading on The New York Stock Exchange, or (2) on a date that is not a Valuation
Date. In either of these two cases, the date of receipt will be deemed to be the
next Valuation Date.
 
FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
The information presented below reflects the Accumulation Unit information for
subaccounts of the Variable Account through December 31, 1996. Accumulation
Units have been rounded to the nearest whole unit.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     U.S. GOV'T   DIVERSIFIED   GLOBAL
                                                                       MONEY MARKET  SECURITIES     INCOME       BOND
                                                                       ------------  -----------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                                    <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................      170,961       12,970      148,631       5,883
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $    1.474    $  17.149    $   1.963   $  11.837
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................       31,800          427       20,649       1,347
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................        1.418       15.935        1.801      11.961
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $   10.000    $  10.000    $  10.000   $  10.000
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                       HIGH YIELD
                                                                       -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................      47,286
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  12.917
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................       9,846
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................      11.928
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  10.000
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       GLOBAL ASSET     ASSET                  GROWTH &
                                                                        ALLOCATION   ALLOCATION      VALUE      INCOME
                                                                       ------------  -----------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                                    <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................       25,317      542,582       55,753     137,613
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $   14.433    $   2.809    $  13.651   $  19.487
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................        7,591       63,004       15,690      14,412
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................       12.884        2.368       11.048      15.468
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $   10.000    $  10.000    $  10.000   $  10.000
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                         S&P 500
                                                                       -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................      96,726
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  14.786
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................       5,144
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................      11.326
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  10.000
</TABLE>
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     INTERNATIONAL   GLOBAL     GROWTH
                                                                        BLUE CHIP       STOCK       GROWTH       STOCK
                                                                       ------------  -----------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                                    <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................       74,226       36,305       47,369     240,842
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $   14.429    $  14.021    $  19.507   $   3.296
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................        9,457       10,999        6,899      70,686
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................       11.520       12.690       18.510       2.971
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $   10.000    $  10.000    $  10.000   $  10.000
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                       AGGRESSIVE
                                                                         GROWTH
                                                                       -----------
<S>                                                                    <C>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................      47,583
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  13.241
DECEMBER 31, 1996
Accumulation Units in Force..........................................      14,449
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................      13.232
MAY 1, 1996*
Accumulation Unit Value..............................................   $  10.000
</TABLE>
 
------------------------
* Accumulation Unit value at date of initial registration effectiveness.
 
Audited financial statements of the Variable Account are included in the
Statement of Additional Information.
 
Advertising and other sales materials may include yield and total return figures
for the subaccounts of the Variable Account. These figures are based on
historical results and are not intended to indicate future performance. "Yield"
is the income generated by an investment in the subaccount over a period of time
specified in the advertisement. This rate of return is assumed to be earned over
a full year and is shown as a percentage of the investment. "Total Return" is
the total change in value of an investment in the subaccount over a period of
time specified in the advertisement. The rate of return shown would produce that
change in value over the specified period, if compounded annually. Yield figures
do not reflect the surrender charge and yield and total return figures do not
reflect premium tax charges. This makes the performance shown more favorable.
 
Financial information concerning First Fortis is included in this prospectus
under "Further Information About First Fortis" and "First Fortis Financial
Statements."
 
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
First Fortis Life Insurance Company is the issuer of the contracts. At the end
of 1997, First Fortis had approximately $7 billion of total life insurance in
force. First Fortis is a New York corporation founded in 1971. It is qualified
to sell life insurance and annuity contracts in New York. First Fortis is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortis, Inc., which is itself indirectly owned 50% by
Fortis (NL)N.V. and 50% by Fortis (B). Fortis, Inc. manages the United States
operations for these two companies.
 
First Fortis is affiliated with the Fortis Financial Group. This group is a
joint effort by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, Fortis Advisers, Inc., Fortis
Investors, Inc., and Fortis Insurance Company to offer financial products
through the management, marketing and servicing of mutual funds, annuities, life
insurance and disability income products.
 
Fortis (NL)N.V. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in
Utrecht, The Netherlands, where its insurance operations began in 1847. Fortis
(B) is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Brussels,
Belgium, where its insurance operations began in 1824. Fortis (NL)N.V. and
Fortis (B) have merged their operating companies under the trade name of Fortis.
The Fortis group of companies is active in insurance, banking and financial
services, and real estate development in The Netherlands, Belgium, the United
States, Western Europe, and the Pacific Rim. The Fortis group of companies had
approximately $XXX billion in assets at the end of 1998.
 
All of the guarantees and commitments under the contracts are general
obligations of First Fortis, regardless of whether you have allocated the
contract value to the Variable Account or to the fixed account. None of First
Fortis' affiliated companies has any legal obligation to back First Fortis'
obligations under the contracts.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
The Variable Account is a segregated investment account of First Fortis. First
Fortis established Variable Account A under New York insurance law as of October
1, 1993. The Variable Account is an integral part of First Fortis. However, the
Variable Account is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a
unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Assets in the
Variable Account representing reserves and liabilities under these contracts and
other variable annuity contracts issued by First Fortis will not be chargeable
with liabilities arising out of any other business of First Fortis.
 
The Variable Account has subaccounts. The assets in each subaccount are invested
exclusively in a distinct class (or series) of stock issued by Series Fund, each
of which represents a separate investment portfolio within Series Fund. Income
and both realized and unrealized gains or losses from the assets of each
subaccount of the Variable Account are credited to or charged against that
subaccount without regard to income, gains or losses, from any other subaccount
of the Variable Account or arising out of any other business we may conduct. We
may add or eliminate new subaccounts as new portfolios are added or eliminated.
 
The Variable Account has fifteen subaccounts. The assets in each subaccount are
invested exclusively in a distinct class (or series) of stock issued by Series
Fund, each of which represents a separate investment portfolio within Series
Fund. Income and both realized and unrealized gains or losses from the assets of
each subaccount of the Variable Account are credited to or charged against that
subaccount without regard to income, gains or losses, from any other subaccount
of the Variable Account or arising out of any other business we may conduct. We
may add or eliminate new subaccounts as new portfolios are added or eliminated.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
SERIES FUND
 
Series Fund is a "series" type of mutual fund. Series Fund is registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Series Fund has served as the investment medium for the Variable Account since
the Variable Account began operations. Since 1987, Series Fund has also been the
investment medium for other variable accounts of an affiliated company.
 
First Fortis purchases and redeems Series Fund shares for the Variable Account
at their net asset value without any sales or redemption charges. These shares
are interests in the portfolios of Series Fund available for investment by the
Variable Account. Each portfolio corresponds to one of the subaccounts of the
Variable Account. The assets of each portfolio are separate from the assets of
other portfolios. In addition, each portfolio operates as a separate investment
portfolio whose investment performance has no effect on the investment
performance of any other portfolio.
 
We automatically reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions attributable
to contracts in shares of the portfolio from which they are received at the
portfolio's net asset value on the date paid. These dividends and distributions
will have the effect of reducing the net asset value of each share of the
corresponding portfolio and increasing, by an equivalent value, the number of
shares outstanding of the portfolio. However, the value of your interest in the
corresponding subaccount will not change as a result of any of these dividends
and distributions.
 
The portfolios of Series Fund available for investment by the Variable Account
are listed on the cover page of this prospectus.
 
A full description of the portfolios, their investment policies and
restrictions, the charges, the risks associated with investing in them, and
other aspects of their operations is contained in the prospectus for Series Fund
accompanying this prospectus and in the Statement of Additional Information for
Series Fund. Additional copies of these documents may be obtained from your
sales representative or from our home office. The complete risk disclosure in
the prospectus for the Diversified Income Series and Asset Allocation Series
should be read before selection of them for investment.
 
THE FIXED ACCOUNT
 
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATES/GUARANTEE PERIODS
 
Any amount you allocate to the fixed account earns a guaranteed interest rate
beginning on the date you make the allocation. The guaranteed interest rate
continues for the number of years you select, up to a maximum of TEN years. At
the end of your guarantee period, your contract value, including accrued
interest, will be allocated to a new guarantee period of equal length. However,
you may reallocate your contract value to a different guarantee period (or
periods) or to one (or more) of the subaccounts of the Variable Account. If you
decide to reallocate your contract value, you must do so by sending us a WRITTEN
REQUEST. We must receive your written request AT LEAST three business days
before the end of your guarantee period. The first day of your new guarantee
period (or other reallocation) will be the day after the end of your previous
guarantee period. We will notify you AT LEAST 45 days and NOT MORE than 60 days
before the end of your guarantee period.
 
We currently offer ten different guarantee periods. These guarantee periods
range in length from one to ten years. Each guarantee period has its own
guaranteed interest rate, which may differ from those for other guarantee
periods. From time to time we will, at our discretion, change the guaranteed
interest rate for FUTURE guarantee periods. These changes will NOT affect the
guaranteed interest rates we are paying on CURRENT guarantee periods. Please
note, when you allocate or transfer an amount to a guarantee period, a new
guarantee period begins running with respect to that amount. Therefore, the
amount you allocate will earn a guaranteed interest rate that will not change
until the end of that period. In addition, the guaranteed interest rate will
never be less than an effective annual rate of 4%.
 
We declare the guaranteed interest rates from time to time as market conditions
dictate. We advise you of the guaranteed interest rate for a chosen guarantee
period at the time we receive a purchase payment from you, or at the time we
execute a transfer you have requested , or at the time a guarantee period is
renewed.
 
We do not have a specific formula for establishing the guaranteed interest rates
for the guarantee periods. Guaranteed interest rates may be INFLUENCED by the
available interest rates on the investments we acquire with the amounts you
allocate for a particular guarantee period. Guaranteed interest rates do not
necessarily CORRESPOND to the available interest rates on the investments we
acquire with the amounts you allocate for a particular guarantee period. See
"Investments by First Fortis". In addition, when we determine guaranteed
interest rates, we may consider: (1) the duration of a guarantee period, (2)
regulatory and tax requirements, (3) sales and administrative expenses we bear,
(4) risks we assume, (5) our profitability objectives, and (6) general economic
trends.
 
FIRST FORTIS' MANAGEMENT MAKES THE FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEED
INTEREST RATES TO BE DECLARED. WE CANNOT PREDICT OR ASSURE THE LEVEL OF ANY
FUTURE GUARANTEED INTEREST RATES IN EXCESS OF AN EFFECTIVE ANNUAL RATE OF 4%.
 
You may obtain information concerning the guaranteed interest rates that apply
to the various guarantee periods. You may obtain this information from our home
office or from your sales representative at any time.
 
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
 
Except as described below, we will apply a Market Value Adjustment to any fixed
account value that is:
 
    - surrendered,
 
    - transferred, or
 
    - otherwise paid out
 
BEFORE the end of the guarantee period in which it is being held.
 
For example, we will apply a Market Value Adjustment to fixed account value that
we pay:
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
    - as an amount applied to an annuity option, and
 
    - as an amount paid as a single sum in lieu of an annuity.
 
The Market Value Adjustment we apply may increase or decrease the fixed account
value that is withdrawn or transferred. We determine whether the fixed account
value is increased or decreased by performing a comparison of two guaranteed
interest rates.
 
The first rate we compare is the guaranteed interest rate for the fixed account
value that is withdrawn or transferred from the existing guarantee period. The
second rate we compare is the guaranteed interest rate we are then offering for
new guarantee periods with durations equal to the number of years remaining in
the existing guarantee period. After comparing these two rates, we determine
whether the fixed account value is increased or decreased as follows:
 
    - If the first rate exceeds the second rate by more than 1/4%, the Market
      Value Adjustment produces an INCREASE in the fixed account value withdrawn
      or transferred.
 
    - If the first rate does not exceed the second rate by at least 1/4%, the
      Market Value Adjustment produces a DECREASE in the fixed account value
      withdrawn or transferred.
 
We will determine the Market Value Adjustment by multiplying the fixed account
value that is withdrawn or transferred from the existing guarantee period (after
deduction of any applicable surrender charge) by the following factor:
 
            1 + I            n / 12
        ( ----------)               - 1
        1 + J + .0025
 
where,
 
    - I is the guaranteed interest rate we credit to the fixed account value
      that is withdrawn or transferred from the existing guarantee period.
 
    - J is the guaranteed interest rate we are then offering for new guarantee
      periods with durations equal to the number of years remaining in the
      existing guarantee period (rounded up to the next higher number of years).
 
    - N is the number of months remaining in the existing guarantee period
      (rounded up to the next higher number of months).
 
However, if we stop offering a guaranteed interest rate for a guarantee period,
we determine I and J with a different method. In these cases, we determine I and
J by using the "bond equivalent yield" on applicable U.S. Treasury Bills or U.S.
Treasury Notes. We determine this yield on either the 1st or the 15th of the
applicable month. Therefore, if we stop offering a guaranteed interest rate for
a guarantee period, I and J will be as follows:
 
    - I is the bond equivalent yield that was available on applicable U.S.
      Treasury Bills or U.S. Treasury Notes at the beginning of the existing
      guarantee period. The applicable U.S. Treasury Bills or U.S. Treasury
      Notes will be those that have maturities equal in length to that of the
      existing guarantee period.
 
    - J is the bond equivalent yield on applicable U.S. Treasury Bills or U.S.
      Treasury Notes that is available at the time we calculate the Market Value
      Adjustment. The applicable U.S. Treasury Bills or U.S. Treasury Notes will
      be those that have maturities equal in length to the length of time
      remaining in the existing guarantee period.
 
You will find sample Market Value Adjustment calculations in Appendix A.
 
We do not apply a Market Value Adjustment to withdrawals and transfers of fixed
account value under THREE exceptions. We describe these exceptions below.
 
(1)  We will NOT apply a Market Value Adjustment to fixed account
     value that we pay out as a death benefit.
 
(2)  We will NOT apply a Market Value Adjustment to fixed account
     value that we pay out during a 30 DAY period that:
 
    - BEGINS 15 DAYS BEFORE the end date of the guarantee period in which the
      fixed account value was being held,
 
     and that:
 
    - ENDS 15 DAYS AFTER the end date of the guarantee period in which the fixed
      account value was being held.
 
(3)  We will NOT apply a Market Value Adjustment to fixed account
     value that is withdrawn or transferred from a guarantee period on a
     PERIODIC, AUTOMATIC BASIS. This exception only applies to such withdrawals
     or transfers under a FORMAL First Fortis program for the withdrawal or
     transfer of fixed account value.
 
We may impose CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS on any formal First Fortis program for
the withdrawal or transfer of fixed account value. Ask your First Fortis
representative about the availability of such a program in your state. In
addition, if such a program is available in your state, your First Fortis
representative can inform you about the conditions and limitations that may
apply to that program.
 
INVESTMENTS BY FIRST FORTIS
 
First Fortis' legal obligations with respect to the fixed account are supported
by our general account assets. These general account assets also support our
obligations under other insurance and annuity contracts. Investments purchased
with amounts allocated to the fixed account are the property of First Fortis,
and you have no legal rights in such investments. Subject to applicable law, we
have sole discretion over the investment of assets in our general account and in
the fixed account. Neither our general account nor the fixed account is subject
to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
 
We will invest amounts in our general account, and amounts in the fixed account,
in compliance with applicable state insurance laws and regulations concerning
the nature and quality of investments for the general account. Within specified
limits and subject to certain standards and limitations, these laws generally
permit investment in:
 
    - federal, state and municipal obligations,
 
    - preferred and common stocks,
 
    - corporate bonds,
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    - real estate mortgages,
 
    - real estate, and
 
    - certain other investments.
 
See "First Fortis" Financial Statements for information on our investments.
Investment management for amounts in our general account and in the fixed
account is provided to us by Fortis Advisors, Inc.
 
When we establish guaranteed interest rates, we will consider the available
return on the instruments in which we invest amounts allocated to the fixed
account. However, this return is only one of many factors we consider when we
establish the guaranteed interest rates. See "Guaranteed Interest
Rates/Guarantee Periods".
 
Generally, we expect to invest amounts allocated to the fixed account in debt
instruments. We expect that these debt instruments will approximately match our
liabilities with regard to the guarantee periods. We also expect that these debt
instruments will primarily include:
 
(1)  securities issued by the United States Government or its
agencies or instrumentalities. These securities may or may not be guaranteed by
     the United States Government;
 
(2)  debt securities that, at the time of purchase, have an
investment grade within the four highest grades assigned by Moody's Investors
     Services, Inc. ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard &
     Poor's"), or any other nationally recognized rating service. Moody's four
     highest grades are: Aaa, Aa, A, and Baa. Standard & Poor's four highest
     grades are: AAA, AA, A, and BBB;
 
(3)  other debt instruments including, but not limited to, issues of,
     or guaranteed by, banks or bank holding companies and corporations.
     Although not rated by Moody's or Standard & Poor's, we deem these
     obligations to have an investment quality comparable to securities that may
     be purchased as stated above;
 
(4)  other evidences of indebtedness secured by mortgages or deeds
     of trust representing liens upon real estate.
 
Except as required by applicable state insurance laws and regulations, we are
not obligated to invest amounts allocated to the fixed account according to any
particular strategy, See "Regulation and Reserves".
 
ACCUMULATION PERIOD
 
ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT AND PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
We reserve the right to reject any application for a contract for any reason. If
we accept your application in the form received, we will credit the initial
purchase payment within two Valuation Dates after the later of (1) receipt of
the application or (2) receipt of the initial purchase payment at our home
office. If we cannot apply the initial purchase payment within five Valuation
Dates after receipt because the application or other issuing instructions are
incomplete, we will return the initial purchase payment unless you consent to
our retaining the initial purchase payment and applying it as of the end of the
Valuation Period in which the necessary requirements are fulfilled. Regardless
of your consent, if the initial purchase payment still cannot be credited within
thirty Valuation Dates after receipt because the application or issuing
instructions are incomplete, the initial purchase payment will be returned to
you. The initial purchase payment must be at least $5,000 ($2,000 for a contract
issued pursuant to a qualified plan).
 
The date that we apply the initial purchase payment to the purchase of the
contract is also the contract issue date. The contract issue date is the date
used to determine contract years, regardless of when we deliver the contract.
Our crediting of investment experience in the Variable Account, or a fixed rate
of return in the fixed account, generally begins as of the contract issue date.
 
We will accept additional purchase payments at any time after the contract issue
date and prior to the annuity commencement date, as long as the Annuitant is
living. You must transmit purchase payments (together with any required
information identifying the proper contracts and accounts to be credited with
purchase payments) to our home office. We apply additional purchase payments to
the contract, and add to the contract value as of the end of the Valuation
Period in which we receive the payments.
 
Each additional purchase payment under a contract must be at least $50. The
total of all purchase payments for all First Fortis annuities having the same
owner, or annuitant, may not exceed $1 million (not more than $500,000 allocated
to the fixed account) without our prior approval. We reserve the right to modify
this limitation at any time.
 
You may make purchase payments in excess of the initial minimum by monthly draft
against a bank account if you have completed and returned to us a special
authorization form. You may get the form from your sales representative or from
our home office. We can also arrange for you to make purchase payments by wire
transfer, payroll deduction, military allotment, direct deposit and billing.
Purchase payments by check should be made payable to Fortis Fortis Life
Insurance Company.
 
If the contract value is less than $1,000, we may cancel the contract on any
Valuation Date. We will notify you of our intention to cancel the contract at
least 90 days in advance of the cancellation date. If we do cancel your
contract, we will pay you the full contract value.
 
CONTRACT VALUE
 
Contract value is the total of any Variable Account value in all the subaccounts
of the Variable Account, plus any fixed account value in all the guarantee
periods.
 
The contract does not guarantee a minimum Variable Account value. You bear the
entire investment risk for the contract value that you allocate to the Variable
Account.
 
DETERMINATION OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT VALUE. A contract's Variable Account value is
based on the number of Accumulation Units and Accumulation Unit values, which
are determined on each Valuation Date. The value of an Accumulation Unit for a
subaccount on any Valuation Date is equal to the previous value of that
subaccount's Accumulation Unit multiplied by that subaccount's net investment
factor (discussed below) for the Valuation Period ending on that
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
Valuation Date. At the end of any Valuation Period, a contract's Variable
Account value in a subaccount is equal to the number of Accumulation Units in
the subaccount times the value of one Accumulation Unit for that subaccount.
 
The number of Accumulation Units in each subaccount is equal to
 
    - Accumulation Units purchased at the time that any purchase payments or
      transferred amounts are allocated to the subaccount; less
 
    - Accumulation Units redeemed to pay for the portion of any transfers from
      or partial surrenders allocated to the subaccount; less
 
    - Accumulation Units redeemed to pay charges under the contract.
 
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR. The net investment factor for a subaccount is determined
by dividing (1) the net asset value per share of the portfolio shares held by
the subaccount, determined at the end of the current Valuation Period, plus the
per share amount of any dividend or capital gains distribution made with respect
to the portfolio shares held by the subaccount during the current Valuation
Period, minus a per share charge for the increase, plus a per share credit for
the decrease, in any income taxes assessed which we determine to have resulted
from the investment operation of the subaccount or any other taxes which are
attributable to this contract, by (2) the net asset value per share of the
portfolio shares held in the subaccount as determined at the end of the previous
Valuation Period, and subtracting from that result a factor representing the
mortality risk, expense risk and administrative expense charge.
 
If a subaccount's net investment factor is GREATER THAN ONE, the subaccount's
Accumulation Unit value has INCREASED. If a subaccount's net investment factor
is LESS THAN ONE, the subaccount's Accumulation Unit value has DECREASED.
 
DETERMINATION OF FIXED ACCOUNT VALUE. A contract's fixed account value is
guaranteed by First Fortis. Therefore, we bear the investment risk with respect
to amounts allocated to the fixed account, except to the extent that (1) we may
vary the guaranteed interest rate for future guarantee periods (subject to the
4% effective annual minimum) and (2) the Market Value Adjustment imposes
investment risks on you.
 
The contract's fixed account value on any Valuation Date is the sum of its fixed
account values in each guarantee period on that date. The fixed account value in
a guarantee period is equal to the following amounts, in each case increased by
accrued interest at the applicable guaranteed interest rate:
 
    - The amount of purchase payments or transferred amounts allocated to the
      guarantee period; less
 
    - The amount of any transfers or surrenders out of the guarantee period.
 
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND CONTRACT VALUE
 
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS. In your application for a contract, you may
allocate purchase payments, or portions of payments, to the:
 
    - available subaccounts of the Variable Account, or
 
    - to the guarantee periods in the fixed account, or
 
    - to a combination of the two previous options.
 
Percentages must be in whole numbers and the total allocation must equal 100%.
The percentage allocations for future purchase payments may be changed, without
charge, at any time by sending a written request to First Fortis' home office.
Changes in the allocation of future purchase payments will be effective on the
date we receive your written request.
 
TRANSFERS. You may transfer contract value:
 
    - from one available subaccount to another available subaccount, or
 
    - from one available subaccount to the fixed account, or
 
    - from one guarantee period to another guarantee period, or
 
    - from one guarantee period to an available subaccount
 
You must request transfers by (1) a written request to First Fortis' home
office, or by (2) a telephone transfer as described below. We do not charge for
any transfer. However, transfers from a guarantee period that are (1) more than
15 days before or 15 days after the expiration of the existing guarantee period,
or are (2) not a part of a formal First Fortis program for the transfer of fixed
account value are subject to a Market Value Adjustment. See "Market Value
Adjustment".
 
The MINIMUM transfer from a subaccount or guarantee period is the LESSER of:
 
    - $1,000, or
 
    - all of the contract value in the subaccount or guarantee period.
 
However, we may permit a continuing request for transfers of lesser specified
amounts automatically on a periodic basis. Where you make all your transfer
requests at the same time, as part of one request, we will count all transfers
between and among the subaccounts of the Variable Account and the fixed account
as one transfer. We will execute the transfers, and determine all values in
connection with the transfers, at of the end of the Valuation Period in which we
receive the transfer request. The amount of any positive or negative Market
Value Adjustment will be added to or deducted from the transferred amount.
 
Certain restrictions on very substantial allocations to any one subaccount are
set forth under "Limitations on Allocations" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
TOTAL AND PARTIAL SURRENDERS
 
TOTAL SURRENDERS. You may surrender all of the cash surrender value at any time
during the life of the Annuitant and prior to the annuity commencement date. If
you choose to make a total surrender, you must do so by written request sent to
our home office. We reserve the right to require that the contract be returned
to us prior to making payment, although this will not affect our determination
of the amount of the cash surrender value. Cash surrender value is:
 
    - the contract value at the end of the Valuation Period during which we
      receive the written request for the total surrender at our home office,
      less
 
    - any applicable surrender charge, and
 
    - after we have applied any Market Value Adjustment.
 
See "Surrender Charge" and "Market Value Adjustment".
 
We must receive written consent of all collateral assignees and irrevocable
beneficiaries prior to any total surrender. We will generally pay surrenders
from the Variable Account within seven days of the date of receipt by our home
office of the written request. However, we may postpone payments in certain
circumstances. See "Postponement of Payment".
 
The amount we pay upon total surrender of the cash surrender value (taking into
account any prior partial surrenders) may be more or less than the total
purchase payments you made. After a surrender of the cash surrender value or at
any time the contract value is zero, all rights of the owner, Annuitant, or any
other person will terminate.
 
PARTIAL SURRENDERS. At any during the life of the Annuitant and prior to the
annuity commencement date, you may surrender a portion of the fixed account
and/or the Variable Account. You must request partial surrender by a written
request sent to First Fortis' home office. We will not accept a partial
surrender request from you unless the net proceeds payable to you, as a result
of the request, are at least $1,000. We will surrender the entire cash surrender
value under the contract if the total contract value in both the Variable
Account and fixed account would be less than $1,000 after the partial surrender.
 
You should specify the subaccounts of the Variable Account or guarantee periods
of the fixed account that you wish to partially surrender. If you do not
specify, we take the partial surrender from the subaccounts and from the
guarantee periods of the fixed account on a pro rata basis.
 
We will surrender Accumulation Units from the Variable Account and/ or dollar
amounts from the fixed account so that the total amount of the partial surrender
equals the dollar amount of the partial surrender request. We will reduce the
partial surrender by the amount of any applicable surrender charge. In addition,
if the surrender is from a guarantee period, we will reduce the amount payable
to you by any negative Market Value Adjustment, or we will increase the amount
payable to you by any positive Market Value Adjustment UNLESS the surrender is
(1) within 15 days before or 15 days after the expiration of a guarantee period,
or (2) is a part of a formal First Fortis program for the transfer or withdrawal
of fixed account value. The partial surrender will be effective at the end of
the Valuation Period in which we receive the written request for partial
surrender at our home office. Payments will generally be made within seven days
of the effective date of such request, although certain delays are permitted.
See "Postponement of Payment".
 
The Internal Revenue Code provides that a penalty tax will be imposed on certain
premature surrenders. For a discussion of this and other tax implications of
total and partial surrenders, including withholding requirements, see "Federal
Tax Matters". Also, under tax deferred annuity contracts pursuant to Section
403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, no distributions of voluntary salary
reduction amounts will be permitted prior to one of the following events:
attainment of age 59 1/2 by the employee or the employee's separation from
service, death, disability or hardship. (Hardship distributions will be limited
to the lesser of the amount of the hardship or the amount of salary reduction
contributions, exclusive of earnings thereon.)
 
TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS
 
You or your representative may make certain requests under the contract by
telephone if we have a written telephone authorization on file. These include
requests for (1) transfers, (2) withdrawals, and (3) changes in purchase payment
allocation instructions, dollar-cost averaging, portfolio rebalancing programs,
and systematic withdrawals. Our home office will employ reasonable procedures to
confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine. These
procedures may include, among others, (1) requiring some form of personal
identification such as your address and social security number prior to acting
upon instructions received by telephone, (2) providing written confirmation of
such transactions, and/or (3) tape recording of telephone instructions. Your
request for telephone transactions authorizes us to record telephone calls. We
may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if
we do not employ reasonable procedures. If we do employ reasonable procedures,
we will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
instructions. We reserve the right to place limits, including dollar limits, on
telephone transactions.
 
BENEFIT PAYABLE ON DEATH OF ANNUITANT OR CONTRACT OWNER
 
If the Annuitant or contract owner dies prior to the annuity commencement date,
we will pay a death benefit. If more than one Annuitant has been named, we will
pay the death benefit payable upon the death of an Annuitant only upon the death
of the last survivor of the persons so named. The death benefit will equal the
greater of:
 
(1)  the sum of all purchase payments made (less all prior
surrenders and previously-imposed surrender charges and prior negative Market
     Value Adjustments),
 
(2)  the contract value as of the date used for valuing the death
     benefit, or
 
(3)  the contract value (less the amount of any subsequent
surrenders and surrender charges and negative Market Value Adjustments in
     connection therewith), as of the contract's Seven Year Anniversary
     immediately preceding the earlier of:
 
(a)    the date of death of either the contract owner or Annuitant,
       or
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
(b)    the date either first reaches his or her 75th birthday.
 
See Appendix B for Sample Death Benefit Calculations.
 
The value of the death benefit is determined as of the end of the Valuation
Period in which we receive, at our home office, proof of death and the written
request as to the manner of payment. Upon receipt of these items, the death
benefit generally will be paid within seven days. Under certain circumstances,
payment of the death benefit may be postponed. See "Postponement of Payment." If
we do not receive a written request for a settlement method, we will pay the
death benefit in a single sum, based on values determined at that time.
 
The person entitled to the death benefit may (1) receive a single sum payment,
which terminates the contract, or (2) select an annuity option. If the death
benefit payee selects an annuity option, he or she will have all the rights and
privileges of a payee under the contract. If the death benefit payee desires an
Annuity option, the election should be made within 60 days of the date the death
benefit becomes payable. Failure to make a timely election can result in
unfavorable tax consequences. For further information, see "Federal Tax
Matters."
 
We accept any of the following as proof of death: (1) a copy of a certified
death certificate; (2) a copy of a certified decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction as to the finding of death; or (3) a written statement by a medical
doctor who attended the deceased at the time of death.
 
The Internal Revenue Code requires that a Non-Qualified Contract contain certain
provisions about an owner's death. We discuss these provisions below under
"Federal Tax Matters--Required Distributions for Non-Qualified Contracts". It is
imperative that written notice of the death of the owner be promptly transmitted
to us at our home office, so that we can make arrangements for distribution of
the entire interest in the contract in a manner that satisfies the Internal
Revenue Code requirements. Failure to satisfy these requirements may result in
the contract not being treated as an annuity contract for federal income tax
purposes with possible adverse tax consequences.
 
THE ANNUITY PERIOD
 
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE
 
You may specify an annuity commencement date in your application. The annuity
commencement date marks the beginning of the period during which an Annuitant or
other payee designated by the owner receives annuity payments under the
contract. The annuity commencement date must be at least two years after the
contract issue date. You should consult your sales representative in this regard
 
The Internal Revenue Code may impose penalty taxes on amounts distributed either
too soon or too late depending on the type of retirement arrangement involved.
See "Federal Tax Matters". You should consider this carefully in selecting or
changing an annuity commencement date.
 
You must submit a written request in order to advance or defer the annuity
commencement date. Moreover, you must submit a written request during the
Annuitant's lifetime. We must receive the request at our home office at least 30
days before the then-scheduled annuity commencement date. The new annuity
commencement date must also be at least 30 days after we receive the written
request. You have no right to make any total or partial surrender during the
Annuity Period.
 
COMMENCEMENT OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
We may pay the entire contract value, rather than apply the amount to an annuity
option if the contract value at the end of the Valuation Period which contains
the annuity commencement date is less than $1,000. We would make the payment in
a single sum to the Annuitant or other payee chosen by the owner and cancel the
contract. We would not impose any charge other than the premium tax charge.
 
Otherwise, we will apply (1) the fixed account value to provide a Fixed Annuity
Option and (2) the Variable Account value in any subaccount to provide a
Variable Annuity Option using the same subaccount, unless you have notified us
by written request to apply the fixed account value and Variable Account value
in different proportions. We must receive written request at our home office at
least 30 days before the annuity commencement date.
 
We will make annuity payments under a Fixed or Variable Annuity Option on a
monthly basis to the Annuitant or other properly-designated payee, unless we
agree to a different payment schedule. If you name more than one person as an
Annuitant, you may elect to name one of such persons to be the sole Annuitant as
of the annuity commencement date. We reserve the right to change the frequency
of any annuity payment so that each payment will be at least $50.
 
The amount of each annuity payment will depend on (1) the amount of contract
value applied to an annuity option, (2) the form of annuity selected, and (3)
the age of the Annuitant. For information concerning the relationship between
the Annuitant's sex and the amount of annuity payments, including special
requirements in connection with employee benefits plans, see "Calculations of
Annuity Payments" in the Statement of Additional Information. The Statement of
Additional Information also contains detailed information about how the amount
of each annuity payment is computed.
 
The dollar amount of any fixed annuity payments is specified during the entire
period of annuity payments according to the provisions of the annuity option
selected. The dollar amount of variable annuity payments varies during the
Annuity Period based on changes in Annuity Unit values for the subaccounts that
you choose to use in connection with your payments.
 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBACCOUNT INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE AND AMOUNT OF VARIABLE
ANNUITY PAYMENTS
 
The amount of an annuity payment depends on the average effective net investment
return of a subaccount during the period since the preceding payment as follows:
 
    - if the return is HIGHER than 4% annually, the Annuity Unit value will
      INCREASE, and the second payment will be HIGHER than the first; and
 
    - if the return is LOWER than 4% annually, the Annuity Unit value will
      DECREASE, and the second payment will be LOWER than the first.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
"Net investment return," for this purpose, refers to the subaccount's overall
investment performance after deduction of the mortality and expense risk and
administrative expense charges, which are assessed at an annual rate of 1.35%.
 
We guarantee that the amount of each variable annuity payment after the first
payment will not be affected by variations in our mortality experience or our
expenses.
 
TRANSFERS. A person receiving annuity payments may make up to four transfers a
year among subaccounts. The current procedures for and conditions on these
transfers are the same as we describe above under "Allocation of Purchase
Payments and Contract Value--Transfers". We do not permit transfers from a Fixed
Annuity Option during the Annuity Period.
 
ANNUITY OPTIONS
 
You may select an annuity option or change a previous selection by written
request. We must receive your request at least 30 days before the annuity
commencement date. You may select one annuity form, although payments under that
form may be on a combination fixed and variable basis. If no annuity form
selection is in effect on the annuity commencement date, we usually
automatically apply Option B (described below), with payments guaranteed for ten
years. However, federal pension law may require that we make default payments
under certain retirement plans pursuant to plan provisions and/or federal law.
Tax laws and regulations may impose further restrictions to assure that the
primary purpose of the plan is distribution of the accumulated funds to the
employee.
 
Your contract offers the following options for fixed and variable annuity
payments. Under each of the options, we make payments as of the first Valuation
Date of each monthly period, starting with the annuity commencement date.
 
OPTION A, LIFE ANNUITY. We do not make payments after the annuitant dies. It is
possible for the annuitant to receive only one payment under this option, if the
annuitant dies before the second payment is due.
 
OPTION B, LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS GUARANTEED FOR 10 YEARS TO 20 YEARS. We
continue payments as long as the annuitant lives. If the annuitant dies before
we have made all of the guaranteed payments, we continue installments of the
guaranteed payments to the beneficiary.
 
OPTION C, JOINT AND FULL SURVIVOR ANNUITY. We continue payments as long as
either the annuitant or the joint annuitant is alive. We stop payments when both
the annuitant and the joint annuitant have died. It is possible for the payee or
payees to receive only one payment under this option if both annuitants die
before the second payment is due.
 
OPTION D, JOINT AND ONE-HALF CONTINGENT SURVIVOR ANNUITY. We continue payments
as long as either the annuitant or the joint annuitant is alive. If the
annuitant dies first, we continue payments to the joint annuitant at one-half
the original amount. If the joint annuitant dies first, we continue payments to
the annuitant at the original full amount. We stop payments when both the
annuitant and the joint annuitant have died. It is possible for the payee or
payees to receive only one payment under this option if both annuitants die
before the second payment is due.
 
We also have other annuity options available. You can get information about them
from your sales representative or by calling or writing to our home office.
 
DEATH OF ANNUITANT OR OTHER PAYEE
 
Under most annuity forms offered by us, the amounts, if any, payable on the
death of the Annuitant during the Annuity Period are the continuation of annuity
payments for any remaining guarantee period or for the life of any joint
Annuitant. In all such cases, the person entitled to receive payments also
receives any rights and privileges under the annuity form in effect.
 
Additional rules applicable to such distributions under Non-Qualified Contracts
are described under "Federal Tax Matters--Required Distributions for
Non-Qualified Contracts". Though the rules there described do not apply to
contracts issued in connection with qualified plans, similar rules apply to the
plans themselves.
 
CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS
 
PREMIUM TAXES
 
We deduct state premium taxes as follows:
 
    - when imposed on purchase payments, we pay the amount on your behalf and
      deduct the amount from your contract value upon (1) our payment of
      surrender proceeds or death benefit or (2) annuitization of a contract, or
 
    - when imposed at the time annuity payments begin, we deduct the amount from
      your contract value.
 
Applicable premium tax rates depend upon your place of residence. Rates can
change by legislation, administrative interpretations, or judicial acts.
 
CHARGES AGAINST THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE. We assess each subaccount of the Variable
Account with a daily charge for mortality and expense risk. This charge is a
nominal annual rate of 1.25% of the average daily net assets of the Variable
Account. It consists of approximately .8% for mortality risk and approximately
 .45% for expense risk. We guarantee not to increase this charge for the duration
of the contract. This charge is assessed during both the Accumulation Period and
the Annuity Period.
 
The mortality risk borne by us arises from our obligation to make annuity
payments (determined in accordance with the annuity tables and other provisions
contained in the contract) for the full life of all Annuitants regardless of how
long all Annuitants or any individual Annuitant might live. In addition, we bear
a mortality risk in that we guarantee to pay a death benefit upon the death of
an Annuitant or
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
owner prior to the annuity commencement date. We do not impose a surrender
charge upon payment of a death benefit. This places a further mortality risk on
us.
 
The expense risk we assume is that actual expenses incurred in connection with
issuing and administering the contract will exceed the limits on administrative
charges set in the contract.
 
We bear the loss if the administrative charges and the mortality and expense
risk charge are insufficient to cover the expenses and costs assumed.
Conversely, we profit if the amount deducted proves more than sufficient.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE. We assess each subaccount of the Variable Account
with a daily charge at an annual rate of .10% of the average daily net assets of
the subaccount. We assess this charge during both the Accumulation Period and
the Annuity Period. This charge helps cover administrative costs such as those
incurred in issuing contracts, establishing and maintaining the records relating
to contracts, making regulatory filings and furnishing confirmation notices,
voting materials and other communications, providing computer, actuarial and
accounting services, and processing contract transactions. There is no necessary
relationship between the amount of administrative charges assessed on a given
contract and the amount of expenses actually incurred for that contract.
 
TAX CHARGE
We currently impose no charge for taxes payable by us in connection with the
contract, other than for applicable premium taxes. We reserve the right to
impose a charge for any other taxes that may become payable by us in the future
for the contracts or the Variable Account.
 
The annual administrative charge and charges against the Variable Account
described above are for the purposes described. We may receive a profit as a
result of these charges.
 
SURRENDER CHARGE
 
We do not deduct a sales charge from purchase payments. We deduct surrender
charges on certain total or partial surrenders. We use the revenues from
surrender charges to partially pay our expenses in the sale of the contracts,
including (1) commissions, (2) promotional, distribution and marketing expenses,
and (3) costs of printing and distribution of prospectuses and sales material.
 
FREE SURRENDERS. You can withdraw the following amounts from the contract
without a surrender charge:
 
    - Any purchase payments that we received more than seven years before the
      surrender date and that you have not previously surrendered;
 
    - Any earnings that you have not previously surrendered;
 
    - In any contract year, up to 10% of the purchase payments that we received
      less than seven years before the surrender date (whether or not you have
      previously surrendered the purchase payments).
 
Earnings are deemed to be withdrawn first. After all earnings have been
withdrawn, all purchase payments not subject to a surrender charge are deemed to
be withdrawn. After all purchase payments not subject to a surrender charge have
been withdrawn, all purchase payments subject to a surrender charge are deemed
to be withdrawn.
 
We do not impose a surrender charge on (1) annuitization or (2) payment of a
single sum because less than the minimum required contract value is available to
provide an annuity at the annuity commencement date or (3) payment of any death
benefit.
 
In addition, we have an administrative policy to waive surrender charges for
full surrenders of contracts that have been in force for at least ten years if
the amount then subject to the surrender charge is less than 25% of the contract
value. We have offered these contracts since 1994. Therefore, we have made no
waivers. We reserve the right to change or terminate this practice at any time,
both for new and for previously issued contracts.
 
AMOUNT OF SURRENDER CHARGE. We only apply surrender charges if the amount being
withdrawn exceeds the sum of the amounts listed above under "Free Surrenders"
(that is, if the amount being withdrawn includes purchase payments made less
than seven years prior to the surrender date). The surrender charges are:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    NUMBER OF YEARS        SURRENDER CHARGE
    SINCE PURCHASE        AS A PERCENTAGE OF
 PAYMENT WAS CREDITED      PURCHASE PAYMENT
-----------------------  ---------------------
<S>                      <C>
      Less than 1                     7%
  At least 1 but less
         than 2                       6%
  At least 2 but less
         than 3                       5%
  At least 3 but less
         than 4                       4%
  At least 4 but less
         than 5                       3%
  At least 5 but less
         than 6                       2%
  At least 6 but less
         than 7                       1%
       7 or more                      0%
</TABLE>
 
We anticipate the surrender charge will not be sufficient to cover our
distribution expenses. To the extent that the surrender charge is insufficient,
we will pay such costs from our general account assets. These assets will
include any profit that we derive from the mortality and expense risk charge.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
The Variable Account invests in shares of the portfolios. Therefore, the net
assets of the Variable Account will reflect the investment advisory fees and
certain other expenses incurred by the portfolios and described in their
prospectus.
 
REDUCTION OF CHARGES
 
We will not impose a surrender charge under any contract owned by First Fortis
and the following persons associated with First Fortis, if at the contract issue
date they are (1) officers and directors (2) employees (3) spouses of any such
persons or any of such persons' children.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
THE CONTRACTS
 
The entire contract includes any application, amendment, rider, endorsement, and
revised contract pages. Only an officer of First Fortis can agree to change or
waive any provision of a contract. Any change or waiver must be in writing and
signed by an officer of First Fortis.
 
The contracts are non-participating and do not share in dividends or earnings of
First Fortis.
 
POSTPONEMENT OF PAYMENT
 
We may defer for up to 15 days the payment of any amount attributable to a
purchase payment made by check to allow the check reasonable time to clear. For
a description of other circumstances in which amounts payable out of Variable
Account assets could be deferred, see "Postponement of Payments" in the
Statement of Additional Information. We may also defer payment of surrender
proceeds payable out of the fixed account for a period of up to 6 months.
 
MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR SEX AND OTHER ERRORS
 
If the Annuitant's age or sex was misstated, we pay the amount that the purchase
payments paid would have purchased at the correct age and sex. If we make any
overpayment because of incorrect information about age or sex, or any other
miscalculation, we deduct the overpayment from the next payment due. We add
underpayments to the next payment. We credit or charge the amount of any
adjustment with interest at the rate of 4% annually.
 
ASSIGNMENT
 
Owners and payees may assign their rights and interests under a Qualified
Contract only in certain narrow circumstances referred to in the contract.
Owners and other payees may assign their rights and interests under
Non-Qualified Contracts, including their ownership rights.
 
We take no responsibility for the validity of any assignment. Owners and payees
must make a change in ownership rights in writing and send it to our home
office. The change will be effective on the date made, although we are not bound
by a change until the date we record it.
 
The rights under a contract are subject to any assignment of record at our home
office. An assignment or pledge of a contract may have adverse tax consequences.
See below under "Federal Tax Matters".
 
BENEFICIARY
 
You may name or change a beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary before the
annuity commencement date. You must send a written request of the change to
First Fortis. Certain retirement programs may require spousal consent to name or
change a beneficiary. In addition, applicable tax laws and regulations may limit
the right to name a beneficiary other than the spouse. We are not responsible
for the validity of any change. A change will take effect as of the date it is
signed but will not affect any payment we make or action we take before
receiving the written request. We also need the consent of any irrevocably named
person before making a requested change.
 
In the event of the death of a contract owner or Annuitant prior to the annuity
commencement date, the beneficiary will be determined as follows:
 
    - If upon the death of a contract owner there is one or more surviving
      contract owners, the surviving contract owner(s) will be the beneficiary
      (these override any other beneficiary designations).
 
    - If upon the death of a contract owner there are no surviving contract
      owners, and upon the death of the Annuitant, the beneficiary will be the
      beneficiary designated by the contract owner.
 
    - If there is no surviving beneficiary who has been designated by the
      contract owner, then the contract owner, or the contract owner's estate,
      will be the beneficiary.
 
REPORTS
 
We will mail to the contract owner (or to the person receiving payments during
the annuity period), at the last known address of record, any report and
communication required by applicable law or regulation. You should therefore
give us prompt written notice of any address change. This will include annual
audited financial statements of the Series Fund, but not necessarily of the
Variable Account or First Fortis.
 
RIGHTS RESERVED BY FIRST FORTIS
 
We reserve the right to make certain changes if, in our judgment, they would
best serve the interests of owners and Annuitants or would be appropriate in
carrying out the purposes of the contracts. We will make any change only as
permitted by applicable laws. We will obtain your approval of the changes and
approval from any appropriate regulatory authority if required by law. Examples
of the changes we may make include:
 
    - To operate the Variable Account in any form permitted under the Investment
      Company Act of 1940 or in any other form permitted by law.
 
    - To transfer any assets in any subaccount to another subaccount, or to one
      or more separate accounts, or to the fixed account; or to add, combine, or
      remove subaccounts in the Variable Account.
 
    - To substitute, for the portfolio shares held in any subaccount, the shares
      of another portfolio of Series Fund or the shares of another investment
      company or any other investment permitted by law.
 
    - To make any changes required by the Internal Revenue Code or by any other
      applicable law in order to continue treatment of the contract as an
      annuity.
 
    - To change the time or time of day at which a Valuation Date is deemed to
      have ended.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    - To make any other necessary technical changes in the contract in order to
      conform with any action the above provisions permit us to take, including
      to change the way we assess charges, but without increasing as to any then
      outstanding contract the aggregate amount of the types of charges that we
      have guaranteed.
 
DISTRIBUTION
 
Fortis Investors, Inc. ("Fortis Investors") is the principal underwriter of the
contracts. The contracts will be sold by individuals who are licensed by state
insurance authorities to sell the contracts of First Fortis, and (1) are
registered representatives of Fortis Investors, or (2) are registered
representatives of other broker-dealer firms or (3) are representatives of other
firms that are exempt from broker dealer regulation. Fortis Investors and any
other broker-dealer firms are (1) registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as broker-dealers, and (2)
members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
 
Fortis Investors will pay a selling allowance to its registered representatives
and selling brokers in varying amounts which under normal circumstances is not
expected to exceed 6.25% of purchase payments plus a servicing fee of .25% of
contract value per year, starting in the first contract year. Fortis Investors
may, under certain flexible compensation arrangements, pay lesser or greater
selling allowances and larger or smaller service fees to our registered
representatives and other broker dealer firms than as set forth above. However,
in such case, such flexible compensation arrangements will have actuarial
present values which are approximately equivalent to the amounts of the selling
allowances set forth above.
 
Fortis Investors will pay an allowance to its registered representatives and
selling brokers in varying amounts. Fortis Investors does not expect the
allowances under normal circumstances to exceed 6.25% of purchase payments plus
a servicing fee of .25% of contract value per year, starting in the first
contract year.
 
We and Fortis Investors may, under certain flexible compensation arrangements,
pay lesser or greater selling allowances and larger or smaller service fees to
its registered representatives and other broker dealer firms than as set forth
above. However, in such case, such flexible compensation arrangements will have
actuarial present values that are approximately equivalent to the amounts of the
selling allowances set forth above. Additionally, registered representatives,
broker-dealer firms and exempt firms may qualify for additional compensation
based upon meeting certain production standards. Fortis Investors may charge
back commissions paid to others if the contract upon which the commission was
paid is surrendered or cancelled within certain specified time periods.
 
First Fortis paid a total of $154,849 and $1,108,526 to Fortis Investors for
annuity contract distribution services during 1996 and 1997, respectively,
$21,793 of which in 1996 and $149,399 in 1997 was not reallowed to other broker
dealers or exempt firms. In the distribution agreement, First Fortis has agreed
to indemnify Fortis Investors (and its agents, employees, and controlling
persons) for certain damages and expenses, including those arising under federal
securities laws.
 
First Fortis or Fortis Investors may also provide additional compensation to
broker-dealers in connection with sales of contracts. Compensation may include
financial assistance to broker-dealers in connection with (1) conferences, (2)
sales or training programs for their employees, (3) seminars for the public,
advertising, (4) sales campaigns regarding contracts, and (5) other
broker-dealer sponsored programs or events. Compensation may also include trips
taken by invited sales representatives and their family members to locations
within or without the United States for business meetings or seminars. First
Fortis or Fortis Investors may pay travel expenses that arise from these trips.
 
See Note 9 to the Notes to First Fortis' Financial Statements as to amounts it
has paid to Fortis, Inc. and Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, affiliates of
First Fortis for various services.
 
Fortis Investors is an indirect subsidiary of Fortis (NL)N.V. and Fortis (B).
Fortis Investors is under common control with First Fortis. Fortis Investors'
principal business address is 500 Bielenberg Drive, Woodbury, Minnesota 55125
and its mailing address is P.O. Box 64284, St. Paul, MN 55164. Fortis Investors
is not obligated to sell any specific amount of interests under the contracts.
$23,000,000 of interests in the fixed account and an indefinite amount of
interests in the Variable Account have been registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
 
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
 
The following description is a general summary of the tax rules, primarily
related to federal income taxes. These rules are based on laws, regulations and
interpretations that are subject to change at any time. This summary is not
comprehensive. We do not intend it as tax advice. Federal estate and gift tax
considerations, as well as state and local taxes, may also be material. You
should consult a qualified tax adviser as to the tax implications of taking any
action under a contract or related retirement plan.
 
NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
 
Section 72 of the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") governs the taxation of
annuities in general. Neither you nor any other person may exclude or deduct
purchase payments under Non-Qualified Contracts from gross income. However, you
are not currently taxed, until receipt, on any increase in the accumulated value
of a Non-Qualified Contract that results from (1) the investment performance of
the Variable Account, or (2) interest credited to the fixed account. Owners who
are not natural persons are taxed annually on any increase in the contract value
subject to exceptions. You may wish to discuss this with your tax adviser.
 
The following discussion applies generally to contracts owned by natural
persons.
 
In general, surrenders or partial withdrawals under contracts are taxed as
ordinary income to the extent of the accumulated income or gain under the
contract. If you assign or pledge any part of the value of a contract, you pay
on the value so pledged or assigned to the same extent as a partial withdrawal.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
With respect to annuity payment options, the tax consequences may vary depending
on the option elected under the contract. Until the "investment in the contract"
is recovered, generally only the portion of the annuity payment that represents
the amount by which the contract value exceeds the "investment in the contract"
will be taxed. In general, "investment in the contract" is the aggregate amount
of purchase payments made. After recovery of an Annuitant's or other payee's
"investment in the contract," the full amount of any additional annuity payments
is taxable.
 
For variable annuity payments, in general, the taxable portion of each annuity
payment (prior to recovery of the "investment in the contract") is the amount of
the payment less the nontaxable portion. The nontaxable portion of each payment
is the "investment in the contract" divided by the total number of expected
annuity payments.
 
For fixed annuity payments, in general, prior to recovery of the "investment in
the contract", there is no tax on the amount of each payment that bears the same
ratio to that payment as the "investment in the contract" bears to the total
expected value of the annuity payments for the term of the payments. However,
the remainder of each annuity payment is taxable. The taxable portion of a
distribution (in the form of an annuity or a single sum payment) is taxed as
ordinary income.
 
For purposes of determining the amount of taxable income resulting from
distributions, all contracts and other annuity contracts we or our affiliates
issue to you within the same calendar year will be treated as if they were a
single contract.
 
You, or any other payee, will pay a 10% penalty on the taxable portion of a
"premature distribution". Generally, an amount is a "premature distribution"
unless the distribution is:
 
    - made on or after you or another payee reach age 59 1/2, or is
 
    - made to a beneficiary on or after your death, or is
 
    - made upon your disability or that of another payee, or is
 
    - part of a series of substantially equal annuity payments for your life or
      life expectancy, or is
 
    - part of a series of substantially equal annuity payments for the life or
      life expectancy of you AND your beneficiary.
 
Premature distributions may result, for example, from:
 
    - an early annuity commencement date
 
    - an early surrender or partial surrender of a contract
 
    - an assignment of a contract
 
    - the early death of an Annuitant other than you or another person receiving
      annuity payments under the contract
 
If you transfer ownership of a contract, or designate an Annuitant or payee
other than yourself, you may have certain income or gift tax consequences that
are beyond the scope of this discussion. If you are contemplating any transfer
or assignment of a contract, you should contact a competent tax adviser.
 
REQUIRED DISTRIBUTIONS FOR NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
 
In order that a Non-Qualified Contract be treated as an annuity contract for
federal income tax purposes, Section 72(s) of the Code requires:
 
    - if any person receiving annuity payments dies on or after the annuity
      commencement date but prior to the time the entire interest in the
      contract has been distributed, the remaining portion of such interest will
      be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution
      being used as of the date of the person's death; and
 
    - if you die prior to the annuity commencement date, the entire interest in
      the contract will be distributed:
 
      - within five years after your death, or
 
      - as annuity payments that will begin within one year of your death and
        will be made over your designated beneficiary's life or over a period
        not extending beyond the life expectancy of that beneficiary.
 
However, if the owner's designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse, the
surviving spouse may continue the contract as the new contract owner. Where the
owner or other person receiving payments is not a natural person, the required
distributions under Section 72(A) apply on the death of the primary Annuitant.
 
The Internal Revenue Service has not issued regulations interpreting the
requirements of Section 72(s) (although it has issued proposed regulations
interpreting similar requirements for qualified plans). We intend to review and
modify the contract if necessary to ensure that it complies with the
requirements of Section 72(s) when clarified by regulation or otherwise.
 
Generally, the above requirements will be satisfied with a single sum payment
where the death occurs prior to the annuity commencement date. A single sum
payment will be subject to proof of the owner's death. The beneficiary, however,
may elect by written request to receive an annuity option instead of a lump sum
payment. However, if the election is not made within 60 days of the date the
single sum death benefit otherwise becomes payable, the IRS may disregard the
election for tax purposes and tax the beneficiary as if a single sum payment had
been made.
 
QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
 
The contracts may be used with several types of tax-qualified plans. The tax
rules applicable to owners, Annuitants, and other payees vary according to the
type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. In general,
purchase payments made under a tax qualified plan on your behalf are excludable
from your gross income during the Accumulation Period. The portion, if any, of
any purchase payment that is not excluded from your gross income during the
Accumulation Period constitutes your "investment in the contract".
 
When annuity payments begin, you will receive back your "investment in the
contract" if any, as a tax-free return of capital. The Code provides which
portion of each payment is taxable and which portion is tax free. These rules
may vary depending on the type of tax qualified plan.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
The contracts are available in connection with the following types of retirement
plans:
 
    - Section 403(b) annuity plans for employees of certain tax-exempt
      organizations and public education institutions;
 
    - Section 401 or 403(a) qualified pension, profit-sharing, or annuity plans;
 
    - Individual retirement annuities ("IRAs") under Section 408(b);
 
    - Simplified employee pension plans ("SEPs") under Section 408(k);
 
    - SIMPLE IRA Plans under Section 408(p); and
 
    - Section 457 unfunded deferred compensation plans of tax-exempt
      organizations and private employer unfunded deferred compensation plans.
 
The tax implications of these plans are further discussed in the Statement of
Additional Information under the heading "Taxation Under Certain Retirement
Plans".
 
WITHHOLDING
 
Annuity payments and other amounts received under contracts are subject to
income tax withholding unless the recipient elects not to have taxes withheld.
The amounts withheld will vary among recipients depending on the tax status of
the individual and the type of payments from which taxes are withheld.
 
Despite the recipient's election, the Code may require withholding from certain
payments outside the United States. The Code may also require withholding from
certain distributions from certain types of qualified retirement plans, unless
the proceeds are transferred directly from the qualified plan to another
qualified retirement plan. Moreover, special "backup withholding" rules may
require us to disregard the recipient's election if the recipient fails to
supply us with a "TIN" or taxpayer identification number (social security number
for individu-
als), or if the Internal Revenue Service notifies us that the TIN provided by
the recipient is incorrect.
 
PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
 
The United States Treasury Department has adopted regulations under Section
817(h) of the Code that set forth diversification requirements for investments
underlying Non-Qualified Contracts. We believe that the investments will satisfy
these requirements. Failure to do so would result in immediate taxation to you
or another person of all income credited to Non-Qualified Contracts. Also,
current regulations do not provide guidance as to any circumstances in which
control over allocation of values among different investment alternatives may
cause you or another person receiving annuity payments to be treated as the
owners of Variable Account assets for tax purposes. We reserve the right to
amend the contracts in any way necessary to avoid any such result. The Treasury
Department may establish standards in this regard through regulations or
rulings. Such standards may apply only prospectively, although retroactive
application is possible if the Treasury Department considered such standards not
to embody a new position.
 
CERTAIN EXCHANGES
 
Section 1035 of the Code provides generally that no gain or loss will be
recognized under the exchange of a life insurance or annuity contract for an
annuity contract. Thus, a properly completed exchange pursuant to the special
annuity contract exchange form we provide for this purpose is not generally a
taxable event under the Code. Moreover, your investment in the contract will be
the same as your investment in the product you exchanged out of.
 
Because of the complexity of these and other tax aspects in connection with an
exchange, you should consult a tax adviser before making any exchange.
 
TAX LAW RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SECTION 403(B) PLANS
 
Section 403(b)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code restricts the distribution under
Section 403(b) annuity contracts of:
 
(1)  elective contributions made for years beginning after
December 31, 1988;
 
(2)  earnings on those contributions; and
 
(3)  earnings on amounts held as of December 31, 1988.
 
Distribution of these amounts may only occur upon death of the employee,
attainment of age 59 1/2, separation from service, disability, or financial
hardship. In addition, we may not distribute income attributable to elective
contributions made after December 31, 1988.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST FORTIS
 
First Fortis Life Insurance Company is an affiliate of the worldwide Fortis
group of companies owned by Fortis (NL) N.V. of the Netherlands and Fortis (B)
of Belgium. The Company was originally organized under New York Insurance Law on
August 12, 1971, and was acquired by the current owners on March 24, 1989, to
enable the Fortis group of companies the ability to distribute their products to
the New York State marketplace.
 
On October 1, 1991, First Fortis Life Insurance Company and its affiliate Fortis
Benefits Insurance Company (the "Companies"), entered into an Asset Transfer and
Acquisition Agreement (the "Agreement") with Mutual Benefit Life Insurance
Company in Rehabilitation (MBL). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Companies
acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of MBL relating to the
group life, accident and health, disability and dental insurance business of
MBL. That portion of the business conducted in New York was assumed by First
Fortis, while the remaining and more substantial portion of the business was
assumed by Fortis Benefits Insurance Company. Fortis (NL) N.V. contributed $25
million in cash to the paid-in-capital of First Fortis on October 1, 1991 in
connection with the acquisition.
 
GENERAL
 
We offer and sell insurance products, including fixed and variable annuity
contracts, and group life, accident and health insurance policies. We market our
products to small business and individuals through a network of independent
agents, brokers, and financial institutions.
 
OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
 
All of First Fortis' outstanding shares are owned by Fortis, Inc., One Chase
Manhattan Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10005. Fortis, Inc., in turn is wholly owned by
Fortis International, Inc., which is wholly owned by AMEV/VSB 1990 N.V., both of
which share the same address with N.V. AMEV., Archimedeslaan 10, 3584 BA,
Utrecht, The Netherlands. AMEV/VSB 1990 N.W. is 50% owned by Fortis (NL)N.V. and
50% owned, through certain subsidiaries, by Fortis (B), Boulevard Emile Jacqmain
53, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
The following is a summary of certain financial data of First Fortis. This
summary has been derived in part from the financial statements of First Fortis
included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read the following along with
these financial statements.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                          (IN THOUSANDS)                               1998        1997        1996        1995        1994
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
<S>                                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA
  Premiums........................................................  $   54,451  $   51,846  $   67,516  $   81,201  $   92,056
  Net investment income...........................................       8,187       7,907       7,891       7,466       6,261
  Realized investment gains (losses)..............................       1,436         361          (3)      2,683      (1,057)
  Other income....................................................       1,202         682         336         298         287
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
    TOTAL REVENUES................................................  $   65,276  $   60,796  $   75,740  $   91,648  $   97,547
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                    ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Benefits and expenses...........................................  $   61,477  $   60,983  $   75,596  $   96,371  $  104,582
  Income tax expense (benefit)....................................       1,347         (63)        (39)     (1,563)       (999)
  Net income (loss)...............................................       2,452        (124)        183      (3,160)     (6,036)
 
BALANCE SHEET DATA
  Total assets....................................................  $  217,502  $  170,898  $  142,742  $  139,913  $  123,954
  Total liabilities...............................................     177,476     133,817     107,050     101,523      97,913
  Total shareholder's equity......................................      40,026      37,081      35,692      38,390      26,041
</TABLE>
 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
 
REVENUES
 
First Fortis (the "Company") life insurance premiums increased during 1998 as
compared to 1997 due to strong group life sales. Accident and health premiums
decreased during 1998 as compared to 1997. This accident and health premium
decrease was substantially attributable to the Company's decision, effective
January 1, 1996, to cease new sales of group medical policies. The Company
continues to service the existing group medical business. The decision to
effectively exit the group medical business has reduced annualized premiums
associated with this line from $11.4 million inforce at January 1, 1997 to a
$4.2 million in premium inforce at December 31, 1998. Accident and health
premiums are principally composed of group accident and health coverages. The
discontinuance of group medical sales and strong dental sales have caused the
group accident and health premium mix to shift. The dental, disability income,
and medical premium represented 44%, 41%, and 15%, respectively, of total group
accident and health premium in 1998 compared to 39%, 39%, and 22%, respectively,
in 1997.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
The Company continues to match investment portfolio composition to liquidity
needs and capital requirements. Changes in interest rates during 1998 and 1997
resulted in recognition of realized gains and losses upon sales of securities.
 
BENEFITS
 
1998 life benefits as compared to premium were lower than 1997 due to more
favorable mortality experience, despite the fact that the aggregate amount of
claims increased. The decrease in accident and health benefits in 1998 as
compared to 1997 is primarily due to improved experience in the group medical
products. Slightly offsetting this is a larger volume of new group long term
disability claims.
 
EXPENSES
 
The Company continues to monitor its commission rate structures, and, as
indicated by market conditions, periodically adjusts rates paid. Rates paid vary
by product type, group size and duration.
 
The Company's general and administrative expenses as a percent of premium has
decreased in 1998 from 1997 as a reflection of the Company's expense monitoring
efforts.
 
YEAR 2000
 
INTRODUCTION. The Company relies heavily on information technology ("IT")
systems to conduct its business. These IT systems include both internally
developed and vendor-supplied systems. The Company also has business
relationships with numerous entities including but not limited to financial
institutions, financial intermediaries, third party administrators and other
critical vendors as well as regulators and customers. These entities are
themselves reliant on their IT systems to conduct their businesses. Therefore,
there is a supply chain of dependency among and between all involved entities.
 
STATE OF READINESS. In 1997, the Fortis parent company organized a
multi-disciplinary Year 2000 Project Team ("Team"). The Company is a part of the
Team. The Team consists of employees at each subsidiary, audit, legal and
outside consultants. The Team has developed and is currently executing a
comprehensive plan designed to make the Company's IT systems Year 2000 ready.
The plan covers four stages including (i) inventory, (ii) assessment, (iii)
programming, and (iv) testing and certification. The Company has completed the
inventory stage for its internal hardware, software and telecommunications
systems (mainframe and client/server applications). The assessment process is
also complete and the Company is utilizing both internal and external resources
to reprogram or replace the systems where necessary, and testing the
applications for Year 2000 readiness. Programming, testing and certification of
these systems and applications are targeted for completion by the end of 1999.
 
COSTS. The Company is not incurring any cost for the Year 2000 project since it
is being paid for by affiliates of the Company. Costs to upgrade and replace
systems in the normal course of business are not included in this estimate. The
Company believes that its Year 2000 project generally is on schedule.
 
RISKS. The Company is attempting to limit the potential impact of the Year 2000
by monitoring the progress of its own Year 2000 project and those of its
critical external relationships and by developing contingency/recovery plans.
The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to identify and/or resolve all
of its Year 2000 issues. Any critical unresolved Year 2000 issues at the Company
or its external relationships, however, could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. If the
Company's Year 2000 issues were unresolved, potential consequence would include,
among other possibilities, the inability to accurately and timely process
benefit claims, update customer's accounts, process financial transactions, bill
customers, assess exposure to risks, determine liquidity requirements or report
accurate data to management, shareholders, customers, regulators and others as
well as business interruptions or shutdowns, financial losses, harm to its
reputation, increased scrutiny by regulators and litigation related to Year 2000
issues.
 
CONTINGENCY PLANS. Consistent with prudent due diligence efforts, the Company
has defined contingency plans aimed at ensuring the continuity of critical
business functions before and after December 31, 1999, should there be an
unexpected system failure. The Company has developed plans that are designed to
reduce the negative impact on Fortis, and provide methods of returning to normal
operations, if failure occurs.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
The liquidity requirements of the Company have been met by funds provided from
operations, including investment income. Funds are principally used to provide
for policy benefits, operating expenses, commissions and investment purchases.
The impact of the declining inforce medical business has been considered in
evaluating the Company's future liquidity needs. The Company expects its
operating activities to continue to generate sufficient funds.
 
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has implemented risk-based
capital standards to determine the capital requirements of a life insurance
company based upon the risks inherent in its operations. These standards require
the computation of risk-based capital amount which is then compared to a
company's actual total adjusted capital. Based upon current calculation using
these risk-based capital standards, the Company's percentage of total adjusted
capital is in excess of ratios which would require regulatory attention.
 
The Company has no long or short term debt. As of December 31, 1998, 96% of the
Company's fixed maturity investments consisted of investment grade bonds. The
Company does not expect this percentage to change significantly in the future.
 
REGULATION
 
The Company is subject to the laws and regulations established by the New York
State Insurance Department governing insurance business conducted in New York
State. Periodic audits are conducted by the New York Insurance Department
related to the Company's compliance with these laws and regulations. To date,
there have been no adverse findings regarding the Company's operations.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
MARKET RISK
 
Interest rate risk is the Company's primary market risk exposure. Substantial
and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can affect the
profitability of insurance products and market value of investments. The yield
realized on new investments generally increases or decreases in direct
relationship with interest rate changes. The market value of the Company's fixed
maturity and mortgage loan portfolios generally increases when interest rates
decrease, and decreases when interest rates increase.
 
Interest rate risk is monitored and controlled through asset/liability
management. As part of the risk management process, different economic scenarios
are modeled, including cash flow testing required for insurance regulatory
purposes, to determine that existing assets are adequate to meet projected
liability cash flows. A major component of the Company's asset/liability
management program is structuring the investment portfolio with cash flow
characteristics consistent with the cash flow characteristics of the Company's
insurance liabilities.
 
The Company uses computer models to perform simulations of the cash flow
generated from existing insurance policies under various interest rate
scenarios. Information from these models is used in the determination of
interest crediting strategies and investment strategies. The asset/liability
management discipline includes strategies to minimize exposure to loss as market
interest rates change. On the basis of these analyses, management believes there
is no material solvency risk to the Company with respect to interest rate
movements up or down of 100 basis points from year end levels.
 
Equity market risk exposure is not significant. Equity investments in the
general account are not material enough to threaten solvency and contractowners
bear the investment risk related to the variable products. Therefore, the risks
associated with the investments supporting the variable separate accounts are
assumed by contractowners, not by the Company. The Company provides certain
minimum death benefits that depend on the performance of the variable separate
accounts. Currently the majority of these death benefit risks are reinsured
which then protects the Company from adverse mortality experience and prolonged
capital market decline.
 
VOTING PRIVILEGES
 
In accordance with our view of current applicable law, We will vote shares of
each of the portfolios attributable to a contract at regular and special
meetings of the shareholders of the portfolios. We will vote those shares in
proportion to instructions we receive from the persons having the voting
interest in the contract as of the record date for the corresponding portfolio
shareholders meeting. Owners have the voting interest during the Accumulation
Period, persons receiving annuity payments have the voting interest during the
Annuity Period, and beneficiaries have the voting interest after the death of
the Annuitant or owner. However, if the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any
rules thereunder should be amended or if the present interpretation thereof
should change, and as a result we determine that we are permitted to vote shares
of the portfolios in our own right, we may elect to do so.
 
We determine the number of shares of a portfolio attributable to a contract as
follows:
 
    - During the Accumulation Period, we divide the amount of contract value in
      a subaccount by the net asset value of one share of the portfolio
      corresponding to that subaccount. We make this calculation as of the
      record date for the applicable portfolio.
 
    - During the Annuity Period, or after the death of the Annuitant or owner,
      we make a similar calculation. However, for subaccount value we use the
      liability for future variable annuity payments allocable to that
      subaccount as of the record date for the applicable portfolio. We
      calculate the liability for future variable annuity payments on the basis
      of the following on the record date:
 
      - mortality assumptions,
 
      - the assumed interest rate used in determining the number of Annuity
        Units under the contract, and
 
      - the applicable Annuity Unit value
 
During the Annuity Period, the number of votes attributable to a contract will
generally decrease since funds set aside to make the annuity payments will
decrease.
 
We will vote shares for which we have not received timely instructions, and any
shares attributable to excess amounts we have accumulated in the related
subaccount, in proportion to the voting instructions which we receive for all
contracts and other variable annuity contracts participating in a portfolio. To
the extent that we or any affiliated company holds any shares of a portfolio,
those shares will be voted in the same proportion as instructions for that
portfolio from all our policy holders holding voting interests in that
portfolio. Shares held by separate accounts other than the Variable Account will
in general be voted in accordance with instructions of owners in such other
separate accounts. This diminishes the relative voting influence of the
contracts.
 
Each person having a voting interest in a subaccount of the Variable Account
will receive proxy material, reports and other materials relating to the
appropriate portfolio. Under the procedures described above, these persons may
give instructions regarding:
 
      - the election of the Board of Directors of the portfolios,
 
      - ratification of the selection of a portfolio's independent auditors,
 
      - the approval of the investment managers of a portfolio,
 
      - changes in fundamental investment policies of a portfolio, and
 
      - all other matters that are put to a vote of portfolio shareholders
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
 
David A. Peterson, Esquire, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel with
our legal department has passed on the legality of the contracts described in
this prospectus. Messrs. Freedman, Levy, Kroll & Simonds, Washington, D.C., have
advised First Fortis on certain federal securities law matters.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
We have filed Registration Statements with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, with respect to the
contracts discussed in this prospectus. We have not included in the prospectus
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, amendments, and
exhibits thereto. We intend statements contained in this prospectus about the
content of the contracts and other legal instruments to be summaries. For a
complete statement of the terms of these documents, you should refer to the
instruments filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
A Statement of Additional Information is available upon request. Its contents
are as follows:
 
CONTENTS OF STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                              <C>
First Fortis and the Variable Account..........
Calculation of Annuity Payments................
Postponement of Payments.......................
Services.......................................
  - Safekeeping of Variable Account Assets.....
  - Experts....................................
  - Principal Underwriter......................
Taxation Under Certain Retirement Plans........
Withholding....................................
Variable Account Financial Statements..........
APPENDIX A--Performance Information............
</TABLE>
 
FIRST FORTIS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
The financial statements of First Fortis that are included in this prospectus
should be considered primarily as bearing on our ability to meet our obligations
under the contracts. The contracts are not entitled to participate in our
earnings, dividends, or surplus.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
Board of Directors
First Fortis Life Insurance Company
 
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of First Fortis Life Insurance
Company, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortis (B) and Fortis (NL)
N.V., as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statements of income,
changes in shareholder's equity and cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1998. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of First Fortis Life Insurance
Company at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                                    /s/ Ernst & Young, LLP
February 19, 1999
Minneapolis, MN
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
BALANCE SHEETS
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------------
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
ASSETS
Investments:
  Fixed maturities, at fair value (amortized cost
   1998--$125,787; 1997--$102,284)..........................  $   130,038   $   105,776
  Short-term investments....................................          830        11,697
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                                  130,868       117,473
 
Cash and cash equivalents...................................        1,160         7,453
 
Receivables:
  Uncollected premiums, less allowance (1998 and
   1997--$100)..............................................        3,538         2,358
  Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid and paid losses.........       28,458        19,764
  Other.....................................................          417         1,402
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                                   32,413        23,524
Accrued investment income...................................        1,895         1,700
Deferred policy acquisition costs...........................        3,148         1,413
Property and equipment at cost, less accumulated
 depreciation (1998--$2,086; 1997--$1,853)..................          324           676
Deferred federal income taxes...............................        1,150         2,079
Goodwill, less accumulated amortization (1998--$368;
 1997--$322)................................................          462           508
Assets held in separate accounts............................       46,082        16,072
                                                              -----------   -----------
TOTAL ASSETS................................................  $   217,502   $   170,898
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                              -----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31
                                                              -------------------------
                                                                 1998          1997
                                                              -----------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
POLICY RESERVES, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
POLICY RESERVES AND LIABILITIES:
  Future policy benefit reserves:
    Life insurance..........................................  $    30,388   $    27,671
    Interest sensitive and investment products..............        6,267         6,878
    Accident and health.....................................       68,206        61,175
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                                  104,861        95,724
  Unearned revenues.........................................        8,535         5,223
  Other policy claims and benefits payable..................       11,084        10,304
  Income taxes payable......................................        2,017           911
  Other liabilities.........................................        4,897         5,583
  Liabilities related to separate accounts..................       46,082        16,072
                                                              -----------   -----------
TOTAL POLICY RESERVES AND LIABILITIES.......................      177,476       133,817
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY:
  Common stock, $20 par value:
    Authorized, issued and outstanding shares--100,000......        2,000         2,000
  Additional paid-in capital................................       37,440        37,440
  Retained deficit..........................................       (2,190)       (4,642)
  Accumulated other comprehensive income....................        2,776         2,283
                                                              -----------   -----------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY..................................       40,026        37,081
                                                              -----------   -----------
TOTAL POLICY RESERVES, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S
 EQUITY.....................................................  $   217,502   $   170,898
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                              -----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                        -------------------------------
                                                                                          1998       1997       1996
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
REVENUES
  Insurance operations:
    Life insurance premiums...........................................................  $  23,057  $  19,158  $  22,791
    Interest sensitive and investment product policy charges..........................         71          4         59
    Accident and health insurance premiums............................................     31,323     32,684     44,666
 
  Net investment income...............................................................      8,187      7,907      7,891
  Net realized gains on investments...................................................      1,436        361         (3)
  Other income........................................................................      1,202        682        336
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
    TOTAL REVENUES....................................................................     65,276     60,796     75,740
 
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
  Benefits to policyholders:
    Life insurance....................................................................     16,167     14,597     19,720
    Interest sensitive and investment products........................................        815        196         72
    Accident and health...............................................................     26,616     29,090     37,988
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                           43,598     43,883     57,780
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs.....................................       (106)       (56)       (92)
Insurance commissions.................................................................      5,056      4,457      5,214
General and administrative expenses...................................................     12,929     12,699     12,694
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
    TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES.......................................................     61,477     60,983     75,596
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
Income (loss) before federal income taxes.............................................      3,799       (187)       144
Federal income taxes..................................................................      1,347        (63)       (39)
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
NET INCOME (LOSS).....................................................................  $   2,452  $    (124) $     183
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 ACCUMULATED
                                                                                 ADDITIONAL                         OTHER
                                                                    COMMON        PAID-IN        RETAINED       COMPREHENSIVE
                                                     TOTAL          STOCK         CAPITAL         DEFICIT       (LOSS) INCOME
                                                  ------------   ------------   ------------   -------------   ---------------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>
Balance, January 1, 1996........................     $  38,390      $  2,000       $ 37,440        $ (4,701)      $  3,651
  Comprehensive loss:
    Net income..................................           183            --             --             183             --
    Change in unrealized losses on investments,
     net........................................        (2,882)           --             --              --         (2,882)
                                                  ------------
  Comprehensive loss............................        (2,699)
                                                  ------------        ------    ------------         ------         ------
Balance, December 31, 1996......................        35,691         2,000         37,440          (4,518)           769
  Comprehensive income:
    Net loss....................................          (124)           --             --            (124)            --
    Change in unrealized gains on investments,
     net........................................         1,514            --             --              --          1,514
                                                  ------------
  Comprehensive income..........................         1,390
                                                  ------------        ------    ------------         ------         ------
Balance, December 31, 1997......................        37,081         2,000         37,440          (4,642)         2,283
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income..................................         2,452            --             --           2,452             --
    Change in unrealized gains on investments,
     net........................................           493            --             --              --            493
                                                  ------------
  Comprehensive income..........................         2,945
                                                  ------------        ------    ------------         ------         ------
Balance, December 31, 1998......................     $  40,026      $  2,000       $ 37,440        $ (2,190)      $  2,776
                                                  ------------        ------    ------------         ------         ------
                                                  ------------        ------    ------------         ------         ------
</TABLE>
 
                            See accompanying notes.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                                                     1998       1997       1996
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net income (loss)..............................................................  $   2,452  $    (124) $     183
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in)
   operating activities:
    Change in deferred tax.......................................................        665     (1,338)        --
    Depreciation, amortization and accretion.....................................        299        707        804
    Loss on disposal of property and equipment...................................         12         --         --
    Net realized (gains) losses on investments...................................     (1,436)      (361)         4
    (Increase) decrease in uncollected premiums, accrued investment income and
     other.......................................................................       (390)     2,309     (1,076)
    Increase in reinsurance recoverable..........................................     (8,694)    (5,033)    (5,395)
    Increase in income taxes payable.............................................      1,106        883      1,772
    Amortization of policy acquisition costs.....................................       (106)       (56)       (92)
    Policy acquisition costs deferred............................................     (1,629)    (1,110)      (155)
    Increase in future policy benefit reserves, unearned revenues and other
     policy claims and benefits..................................................     13,922      1,769      5,265
    (Decrease) increase in other liabilities.....................................       (686)     1,533     (1,939)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
        NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES......................      5,515       (821)      (629)
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Purchases of fixed maturity investments........................................   (187,953)  (127,426)  (140,954)
  Sales and repayments of fixed maturity investments.............................    165,971    137,273    135,352
  Decrease (increase) in short-term investments..................................     10,867    (11,697)     6,942
  Purchases of property and equipment............................................         --       (107)      (310)
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
        NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES......................    (11,115)    (1,957)     1,030
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Activities related to investment products:
    Considerations received......................................................     13,661     10,679         --
    Surrenders and death benefits................................................    (15,075)    (2,152)        --
    Interest credited to policyholders...........................................        721        159         --
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
        NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES......................       (693)     8,686         --
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
 
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents.................................     (6,293)     5,908        401
        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR...........................      7,453      1,545      1,144
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR.................................  $   1,160  $   7,453  $   1,545
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying note
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
DECEMBER 31, 1998
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
First Fortis Life Insurance Company (the Company) is an affiliate of the
worldwide Fortis group of companies owned by Fortis (B) and Fortis (NL) N.V.
Prior to April 30, 1997, First Fortis was wholly-owned by Fortis (B), while the
other U.S. subsidiaries of Fortis (B) and Fortis (NL) N.V. operated under the
holding company of Fortis, Inc. Upon regulatory approval by the New York State
Insurance Department in April 1997, the Company became a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Fortis, Inc. The Company was organized to enable the Fortis group of
companies to distribute their products to the New York State marketplace. To
date, the Company's revenues have been derived primarily from group employee
benefits products. During 1998, the Company had no direct premium written by
third party administrators ("TPAs"). Effective January 1, 1996, the Company
stopped offering its group medical products; however, the Company will continue
to renew and service existing medical business, which represented $4,648,000,
$7,297,000 and $17,871,000 of 1998, 1997 and 1996 accident and health premiums,
respectively.
 
BASIS OF STATEMENT PRESENTATION
 
During 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
Board (SFAS) 130, REPORTING COMPREHENSIVE INCOME. SFAS 130 establishes new rules
for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components;
however, the adoption of this SFAS had no impact on the Company's net income or
shareholder's equity. SFAS 130 requires unrealized gains or losses on the
Company's available-for-sale securities, which prior to adoption were reported
separately in shareholder's equity, to be included in other comprehensive
income. Prior year financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the
requirements of SFAS 130.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles, which practices differ in certain
respects from statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the
Department of Insurance of the State of New York. The more significant of these
principles are:
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION AND FUTURE POLICY BENEFIT RESERVES
 
Premiums for traditional life insurance are recognized as revenue when due over
the premium-paying period. Reserves for future policy benefits are computed
using the net level method and include investment yield, mortality, withdrawal,
and other assumptions based on the Company's experience, modified as necessary
to reflect anticipated trends and to include provisions for possible unfavorable
deviations.
 
Revenues for interest sensitive and investment products consist of charges
assessed against policy account balances during the period for the cost of
insurance, policy administration, and surrender charges. Future policy benefit
reserves are computed under the retrospective deposit method and consist of
policy account balances before applicable surrender charges. Policy benefits
charged to expense during the period include amounts paid in excess of policy
account balances and interest credited to policy account balances. Interest
credit rates for universal life and investment products ranged from 3.5% to
10.25% in 1998 and 3.5% to 10.0% in 1997 and 1996.
 
Premiums for accident and health insurance products, including medical, long and
short-term disability and dental insurance products, are recognized as revenues
ratably over the contract period in proportion to the risk insured. Reserves for
future disability benefits are based on the 1964 Commissioners Disability Table
at 6% interest. Calculated reserves are modified based on the Company's actual
experience.
 
Premiums for credit insurance included in life insurance premiums and accident
and health insurance premiums are recognized as revenues when due over the
estimated coverage period.
 
CLAIMS AND BENEFITS PAYABLE
 
Other policy claims and benefits payable for reported and incurred but not
reported claims and related claims adjustment expenses are determined using
case-basis estimates and past experience. The methods of making such estimates
and establishing the related liabilities are continually reviewed and updated.
Any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in income currently.
 
DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
 
The costs of acquiring new business, which vary with and are directly related to
the production of new business, are deferred to the extent recoverable and
amortized. For credit life, disability and accident and health insurance
products, such costs are amortized over the premium paying period. For interest
sensitive and investment products, such costs are amortized in relation to
expected future gross profits. Estimation of future gross profits requires
significant management judgment and are reviewed periodically. As excess amounts
of deferred costs over future premiums or gross profits are identified, such
excess amounts are expensed.
 
INVESTMENTS
 
The Company's investment strategy is developed based on many factors including
insurance liability matching, rate of return, maturity, credit risk, tax
considerations and regulatory requirements.
 
All fixed maturity investments are classified as available-for-sale and carried
at fair value.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
1.  NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
    (CONTINUED)
Changes in fair values of available-for-sale securities, after related deferred
income taxes and after adjustment for the changes in pattern of amortization of
deferred policy acquisition costs are reported as accumulated other
comprehensive income and, accordingly, have no effect on net income.
 
Short term investments are at cost which approximates fair value.
 
Realized gains and losses on sales of investments, and declines in value judged
to be other-than-temporary, are recognized on the specific identification basis.
Investment income is recorded as earned.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. The
Company provides for depreciation principally on the straight-line method over
the estimated useful lives of the related property.
 
GOODWILL
 
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over net assets
acquired in connection with the purchase of the shell of Metropolitan Life.
Goodwill is amortized on a straight line basis over 18 years.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
Income taxes have been provided using the liability method. Deferred tax assets
and liabilities are determined based on the temporary differences between the
financial reporting and the tax bases and are measured using the enacted tax
rates.
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
 
Revenues and expenses related to the separate account assets and liabilities are
excluded from the amounts reported in the accompanying statements of operations.
Assets and liabilities associated with separate accounts relate to deposit and
annuity considerations for which the contractholder, rather than the Company,
bears the investment risk. Separate account assets are reported at fair value
and represent funds held for the exclusive benefit of the variable annuity
contract owners. The Company receives mortality and expense risk fees from the
separate accounts.
 
The Company makes contractual mortality assurances to the variable annuity
contract owners that the net assets of the separate accounts will not be
affected by future variations in the actual life expectance experience of the
annuitants and beneficiaries from the mortality assumptions implicit in the
annuity contracts. The Company makes periodic fund transfers to, or withdrawals
from, the separate account assets for such actuarial adjustments for variable
annuities that are in the benefit payment period. The Company also guarantees
that the rates at which administrative fees are deducted from contract funds
will not exceed contractual maximums.
 
GUARANTY FUND ASSESSMENTS
 
There are a number of insurance companies that are currently under regulatory
supervision. This may result in future assessments by state guaranty fund
associations to cover losses to policyholders of insolvent or rehabilitated
companies. These assessments can be partially recovered through a reduction in
future premium taxes in some states. The Company believes it has adequately
provided for the impact of future assessments relating to current insolvencies.
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
The Company considers investments with a maturity at the date of their
acquisition of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These securities are
carried principally at amortized cost which approximates fair value
 
RECLASSIFICATIONS
 
Certain amounts in the 1997 and 1996 financial statements have been reclassified
to conform to the 1998 presentation.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
2.  INVESTMENTS
 
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
 
The following is a summary of the available-for-sale securities (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   GROSS       GROSS
                                                    AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED  UNREALIZED     FAIR
                                                      COST         GAIN        LOSS         VALUE
                                                   -----------   ---------   ---------   -----------
<S>                                                <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>
December 31, 1998
  Governments....................................  $   18,770    $    437    $     14    $    19,193
  Public utilities...............................      14,446         768         119         15,095
  Industrial and miscellaneous...................      92,571       3,471         292         95,750
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
    Total........................................  $  125,787    $  4,676    $    425    $   130,038
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
December 31, 1997
  Governments....................................  $    3,599    $    125    $      2    $     3,722
  Public utilities...............................       8,212         247          --          8,459
  Industrial and miscellaneous...................      90,473       3,197          75         93,595
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
    Total........................................  $  102,284    $  3,569    $     77    $   105,776
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
                                                   -----------   ---------        ---    -----------
</TABLE>
 
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at December 31,
1998, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          AMORTIZED       FAIR
                                                                            COST          VALUE
                                                                         -----------   -----------
<S>                                                                      <C>           <C>
Due in one year or less................................................  $    1,226    $     1,228
Due after one year through five years..................................      41,505         42,350
Due after five years through ten years.................................      42,709         44,286
Due after ten years....................................................      40,347         42,174
                                                                         -----------   -----------
Total..................................................................  $  125,787    $   130,038
                                                                         -----------   -----------
                                                                         -----------   -----------
</TABLE>
 
Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers
may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or
prepayment penalties.
 
INVESTMENTS ON DEPOSIT
 
The Company had fixed maturities carried at $525,000, at December 31, 1998 and
1997, on deposit with various governmental authorities as required by law.
 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME AND NET REALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS
 
Major categories of net investment income for each year were as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          1998       1997       1996
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
Fixed maturities......................................................  $   8,108  $   7,744  $   7,941
Short-term investments................................................        222        302        231
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                            8,330      8,046      8,172
Expenses..............................................................       (143)      (139)      (281)
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
Net investment income.................................................  $   8,187  $   7,907  $   7,891
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                        ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
All net realized gains (losses) on investments resulted from sales of fixed
maturities.
 
Proceeds from sales of investments were $165,471,000, $134,234,000, and
$135,352,000 in 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. Gross gains of $1,757,000,
$1,136,000, and $1,551,000 and gross losses of $321,000, $775,000, and
$1,554,000 were realized on the sales in 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
2.  INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
NET UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES)
 
The adjusted net unrealized gains (losses) on investments recorded in
accumulated other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, were as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              TAX
                                                             BEFORE-TAX    (BENEFIT)   NET-OF-TAX
                                                               AMOUNT       EXPENSE      AMOUNT
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                          <C>          <C>          <C>
December 31, 1998
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments:
  Unrealized gains(losses) on available-for-sale
   investments.............................................   $   2,194    $    (768)   $   1,426
  Reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net
   income..................................................      (1,436)         503         (933)
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Other comprehensive income.................................   $     758    $    (265)   $     493
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
December 31, 1997
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments:
  Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   investments.............................................   $   2,766    $  (1,017)   $   1,748
  Reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) realized
   in net income...........................................        (361)         126         (234)
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Other comprehensive income.................................   $   2,405    $    (891)   $   1,514
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
December 31, 1996
Unrealized (losses) gains on investments:
  Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
   investments.............................................   $  (4,370)   $   1,486    $  (2,884)
  Reclassification adjustment for losses realized in net
   income..................................................           3           (1)           2
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
Other comprehensive (loss).................................   $  (4,367)   $   1,485    $  (2,882)
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                             -----------  -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
3.  LEASES
 
    The Company leases office space under operating lease arrangements that have
various renewal options and are subject to escalation clauses for real estate
taxes and operating expenses. Rent expense was $789,000, $661,000, and $692,000
in 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. Future minimum payments required under
operating lease arrangements that have initial or noncancelable terms in excess
of one year or more are: 1999-- $602,000, 2000--$51,000, 2001--$43,000 and
2002--$28,000.
 
4.  ACCIDENT AND HEALTH RESERVES
 
    Activity for the liability for unpaid accident and health claims is
summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                     -------------------------------
                                                                       1998       1997       1996
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance as of January 1, net of reinsurance recoverables...........  $  60,498  $  61,482  $  65,764
Add: Incurred losses related to:
  Current year.....................................................     16,816     25,424     38,798
  Prior years......................................................      9,800      3,666       (810)
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total incurred losses..........................................     26,616     29,090     37,988
Deduct: Paid losses related to:
  Current year.....................................................     11,639     15,393     23,727
  Prior year.......................................................     12,935     14,681     18,543
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total paid losses..............................................     24,574     30,074     42,270
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance as of December 31, net of reinsurance recoverables.........  $  62,540  $  60,498  $  61,482
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
The table above compares to the amounts reported on the balance sheet in the
following respects: (1) the table above is presented net of ceded reinsurance
and the accident and health reserves reported on the balance sheet are gross of
ceded reinsurance; and (2) the table above includes accident and health benefits
payable which are included with other policy claims and benefits payable
reported on the balance sheet.
 
As discussed in Note 1, the Company stopped offering group medical products in
1996 but continues to service and renew existing business, resulting in lower
incurred and paid loss activity for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996.
 
The liability for unpaid accident and health claims includes $59,339,000,
$55,956,000 and $55,152,000 of total disability income reserves as of December
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, which were discounted for anticipated
interest earnings assuming a 6.0% interest rate.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
4.  ACCIDENT AND HEALTH RESERVES (CONTINUED)
The 1998 and 1997 claims incurred related to prior years is principally
additional payments and increases to the discounted accident and health reserves
based on actual experience of claims liabilities through the current year. For
1996, the claims incurred related to prior years resulted from favorable
experience mitigated by increases to the discounted accident and health reserves
based on actual experience of claims liabilities through the current year.
 
5.  FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
 
    As of May 1, 1997, the Company reports its taxable income in a consolidated
federal income tax return along with other affiliated subsidiaries of Fortis,
Inc. (Fortis). Income tax expense or credits are allocated among the affiliated
subsidiaries by applying corporate income tax rates to taxable income or loss
determined on a separate return basis according to a Tax Allocation Agreement.
 
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement purposes and
for income tax purposes.
 
The significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets
as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                               --------------------
                                                                                 1998       1997
                                                                               ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                            <C>        <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Reserves...................................................................  $     473  $   2,437
  Separate account assets/liabilities........................................      1,545        229
  Deferred policy acquisition costs..........................................         --        228
  Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward................................        308        392
  Net operating loss carryforward............................................        557        598
  Other......................................................................         19        493
                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Total deferred tax assets................................................      2,902      4,377
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Deferred policy acquisition costs..........................................        213         --
  Unrealized gains...........................................................      1,487      1,287
  Other......................................................................         52      1,011
                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Total gross deferred tax liabilities.....................................      1,752      2,298
                                                                               ---------  ---------
    Net deferred tax asset...................................................  $   1,150  $   2,079
                                                                               ---------  ---------
                                                                               ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion of
the deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. In the
opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the Company will realize
the benefit of the deferred tax assets, and therefore, no such valuation
allowance has been established.
 
The Company's tax benefit for the year ended December 31 is shown as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1998       1997       1996
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                      <C>        <C>        <C>
Current................................................................  $     889  $     (35) $    (131)
Deferred...............................................................        458        (28)        92
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                         $   1,347  $     (63) $     (39)
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                         ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
Federal income tax payments and refunds resulted in net payments of $382,000 and
$32,000 in 1997 and 1996 respectively, and net refunds of $424,000 in 1998.
 
The Company's effective income tax rate varied from the statutory federal income
tax rate as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              1998         1997        1996
                                                                               ---          ---         ---
<S>                                                                        <C>          <C>          <C>
Statutory income tax rate................................................        35.0%        35.0%       34.0%
Other, including provision for prior year adjustments....................          .4         (1.3)      (61.3)
                                                                                  ---          ---         ---
                                                                                 35.4%        33.7%      (27.3)%
                                                                                  ---          ---         ---
                                                                                  ---          ---         ---
</TABLE>
 
As of May 1, 1997, the Company is included as a member of a federal consolidated
group that has a statutory federal rate of 35%.
 
At December 31, 1998, the Company has net operating loss and capital loss
carryforwards relating to periods ending before May 1, 1997, for federal income
tax purposes of $1,591,000 which are available to offset future federal taxable
income of the Company, if any, through 2009. The Company also has alternative
minimum tax credit carryforwards of $308,000 relating to periods before May 1,
1997, which are available to reduce future federal regular income taxes of the
Company, if any, over an indefinite period of time.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
6.  REINSURANCE
 
    The maximum amounts that the Company retains on any one life are $500,000
for group life; $250,000 for group accidental death; $2,000 net monthly benefit
for long-term disability; from 10% to 100% of possible benefits payable under
credit life and credit disability insurance; and none of a closed block of
individual life business. Amounts in excess of these limits are reinsured with
various insurance companies on a yearly renewable term, coinsurance or other
basis.
 
In the second quarter of 1996, the Company received approval from the New York
State Insurance Department for a reinsurance agreement with the Fortis Benefits
Insurance Company ("Fortis Benefits"), an affiliate. The agreement, which became
effective as of January 1, 1996, decreased the Company's long-term disability
reinsurance retention from a $10,000 net monthly benefit to a $2,000 net monthly
benefit for claims incurred on and after January 1, 1996. The Company has ceded
$5,601,000, $5,742,000 and $6,144,000 of premium to Fortis Benefits in 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively. Fortis Benefits has assumed $9,315,000, $5,452,000
and $3,599,000 of reserves in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, from the
Company. In the future, the agreement is expected to reduce the variability of
financial results for this product line.
 
Future policy benefits and other policy claims and benefits payable are reported
gross of reinsurance. The reinsured portion of future policy benefits and other
policy claims and benefits payable are $28,458,000 and $19,764,000 in 1998 and
1997, respectively.
 
Ceded reinsurance premiums for the year ended December 31 were as follows (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1998       1997       1996
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
Life insurance......................................................  $   5,343  $   3,249  $   1,366
Accident and health insurance.......................................     11,343      8,768      7,085
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      $  16,686  $  12,017  $   8,451
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
Recoveries under reinsurance contracts for the year ended December 31 were as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1998       1997       1996
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>
Life insurance......................................................  $   1,740  $   1,628  $   1,021
Accident and health insurance.......................................      3,504      2,310        348
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      $   5,244  $   3,938  $   1,369
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
Reinsurance ceded would become a liability of the Company in the event the
reinsurers are unable to meet the obligations assumed under the reinsurance
agreement. To minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurance
insolvencies, the Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers
and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic
regions, activities or economic characteristics of the reinsurers.
 
7.  DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS
 
    The Company is subject to insurance regulatory restrictions that limit cash
dividends which can be paid from the Company to its Parent. All dividends
require prior approval by the New York State Insurance Department.
 
8.  REGULATORY ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS
 
    The Company prepares its statutory-basis financial statements in accordance
with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department of Insurance
of the State of New York. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include a
variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
("NAIC"), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules.
Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices that
are not prescribed; such practices may differ from company to company within a
state, and may change in the future. While the NAIC has recently completed a
project to codify statutory accounting practices, which may result in changes to
the accounting practices that insurance enterprises use to prepare their
statutory-basis financial statements, adoption by Minnesota is not anticipated
before 2001.
 
Insurance enterprises are required by state insurance departments to adhere to
minimum risk-based capital ("RBC") requirements developed by the NAIC. The
Company exceeds the minimum RBC requirements.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
8.  REGULATORY ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS (CONTINUED)
Reconciliations of net income (loss) and shareholder's equity on the basis of
statutory accounting to the related amounts presented in the accompanying
statements were as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                                                             NET INCOME (LOSS)
                                                      -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                        1998       1997       1996       1998       1997
                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Based on statutory accounting practices.............  $   1,177  $    (296) $    (428) $  28,782  $  27,358
Deferred policy acquisition costs...................      1,764      1,180        247      3,148      1,413
Deferred and uncollected premiums...................    (14,055)       246         76         97        425
Policy reserves.....................................     13,463       (660)       476       (361)       (92)
Investment valuation difference.....................         --        (47)        --      4,250      3,492
Realized gains (losses) on investments..............        896        235         (3)        --         --
Amortization of goodwill............................        (46)       (46)       (46)       462        508
Income taxes........................................       (458)        28        115         55        778
Pension.............................................        (19)      (275)        --       (321)      (301)
Amortization of IMR.................................       (347)      (348)      (426)        --         --
Interest Maintenance Reserve........................         --         --         --      2,438      1,888
Asset Valuation Reserve.............................         --         --         --        814        717
Property and equipment..............................         --         --         --        164        318
Agents balances.....................................         --         --         --        300        456
Other...............................................         77       (141)       172        198        121
                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
As reported herein..................................  $   2,452  $    (124) $     183  $  40,026  $  37,081
                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                      ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
9.  TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATED COMPANIES
 
    The Company received various services from Fortis and its affiliates. These
services include assistance in benefit plan administration, corporate insurance,
accounting, tax, auditing, investment information systems, actuarial and other
administrative functions. The fees paid for these services for years ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, were $1,712,000, $2,568,000 and $1,648,000,
respectively.
 
Administrative expenses allocated for the Company may be greater or less than
the expenses that would be incurred if the Company were operating on a separate
company basis.
 
10. FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
 
VALUATION METHODS AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
The fair values for fixed maturity securities are based on quoted market prices,
where available. For fixed maturity securities not actively traded, fair values
are estimated using values obtained from independent pricing services or, in the
case of private placements, are estimated by discounting expected future cash
flows using a current market rate applicable to the yield, credit quality, and
maturity of the investments.
 
For short-term investments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair
value. The fair values for the Company's policy reserves under the investment
products are determined using cash surrender value.
 
Separate account assets and liabilities are reported at their estimated fair
value in the Balance Sheet.
 
The fair values under all insurance contracts are taken into consideration in
the Company's overall management of interest rate risk, such that the Company's
exposure to changing interest rates is minimized through the matching of
investment maturities with amounts due under insurance contracts.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS)
                                                                                        DECEMBER 31
                                                                   -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                             1998                        1997
                                                                   -------------------------   -------------------------
                                                                    CARRYING        FAIR        CARRYING        FAIR
                                                                     AMOUNT         VALUE        AMOUNT         VALUE
                                                                   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Assets:
  Investments:
    Securities available-for-sale:
      Fixed maturities...........................................  $  130,038    $   130,038   $  105,776    $   105,776
  Short-term investments.........................................         830            830       11,697         11,697
  Cash...........................................................       1,160          1,160        7,453          7,453
  Assets held in separate accounts...............................      46,082         46,082       16,072         16,072
Liabilities:
  Individual and group annuities (subject to discretionary
   withdrawal)...................................................  $    8,435    $     8,097   $    6,877    $     6,554
  Liabilities related to Separate Accounts.......................      46,082         46,082       16,072         16,072
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FIRST FORTIS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
 
11. RETIREMENT AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
 
    Fortis (the Company's parent) sponsors a defined benefit pension plan
covering employees and certain agents who meet eligibility requirements as to
age and length of service. The benefits are based on years of service and career
compensation. As a matter of policy, pension costs are funded as they accrue and
vested benefits are fully funded. Fortis' funding policy is to contribute
annually the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax
purposes, and to charge each subsidiary an allocable amount based on its
employee census. Pension cost allocated to the Company amounted to $52,000,
$61,000 and $72,000 for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
 
The Company has a contributory profit sharing plan, sponsored by Fortis,
covering employees and certain agents who meet eligibility requirements as to
age and length of service. The Company matches 200% up to 3% of the employee's
contribution. Benefits are payable to participants on retirement or disability
and to the beneficiaries of participants in the event of death. The amount
expensed was approximately $124,000, $122,000 and $182,000 for 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
 
In addition to retirement benefits, the Company participates in other health
care and life insurance benefit plans ("postretirement benefits") for retired
employees, sponsored by Fortis. Health care benefits, either through a
Fortis-sponsored retiree plan for retirees under age 65 or through a cost offset
for individually purchased Medigap policies for retirees over age 65, are
available to employees who retire on or after January 1, 1993, at age 55 or
older, with 15 years or more service. Life insurance, on a retiree pay all
basis, is available to those who retire on or after January 1, 1993.
 
12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
    The Company is named as a defendant in a number of legal actions arising
primarily from claims made under insurance policies. These actions have been
considered in establishing policy benefit and loss reserves. Management and its
legal counsel are of the opinion that the settlement of these actions will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of
operations.
 
13. YEAR 2000 (UNAUDITED)
 
INTRODUCTION. The Company relies heavily on information technology ("IT")
systems to conduct its business. These IT systems include both internally
developed and vendor-supplied systems. The Company also has business
relationships with numerous entities including but not limited to financial
institutions, financial intermediaries, third party administrators and other
critical vendors as well as regulators and customers. These entities are
themselves reliant on their IT systems to conduct their businesses. Therefore,
there is a supply chain of dependency among and between all involved entities.
 
STATE OF READINESS. In 1997, the Fortis parent company organized a
multi-disciplinary Year 2000 Project Team ("Team"). The Company is a part of the
Team. The Team consists of employees at each subsidiary, audit, legal and
outside consultants. The Team has developed and is currently executing a
comprehensive plan designed to make the Company's IT systems Year 2000 ready.
The plan covers four stages including (i) inventory, (ii) assessment, (iii)
programming, and (iv) testing and certification. At December 31, 1998, the
Company has completed the inventory stage for its internal hardware, software
and telecommunications systems (mainframe and client/server applications). The
assessment process is also complete and the Company is utilizing both internal
and external resources to reprogram or replace the systems where necessary, and
testing the applications for Year 2000 readiness. Programming, testing and
certification of these systems and applications are targeted for completion by
the end of 1999.
 
COSTS. The Company is not incurring any cost for the Year 2000 project since it
is being paid for by affiliates of the Company. Costs to upgrade and replace
systems in the normal course of business are not included in this estimate. The
Company believes that its Year 2000 project generally is on schedule.
 
RISKS. The Company is attempting to limit the potential impact of the Year 2000
by monitoring the progress of its own Year 2000 project and those of its
critical external relationships and by developing contingency/recovery plans.
The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to identify and/or resolve all
of its Year 2000 issues. Any critical unresolved Year 2000 issues at the Company
or its external relationships, however, could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. If the
Company's Year 2000 issues were unresolved, potential consequence would include,
among other possibilities, the inability to accurately and timely process
benefit claims, update customer's accounts, process financial transactions, bill
customers, assess exposure to risks, determine liquidity requirements or report
accurate data to management, shareholders, customers, regulators and others as
well as business interruptions or shutdowns, financial losses, harm to its
reputation, increased scrutiny by regulators and litigation related to Year 2000
issues.
 
CONTINGENCY PLANS. Consistent with prudent due diligence efforts, the Company
has defined contingency plans aimed at ensuring the continuity of critical
business functions before and after December 31, 1999, should there be an
unexpected system failure. The Company has developed plans that are designed to
reduce the negative impact on Fortis, and provide methods of returning to normal
operations, if failure occurs.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A--SAMPLE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT CALCULATIONS
 
The formula which will be used to determine the Market Value Adjustment is:
 
          1 + I              n/12
      ( ----------)                - 1
      1 + J + .0025
 
Sample Calculation 1: Positive Adjustment
 
Amount withdrawn or transferred           $10,000
Existing Guarantee Period                 7 years
Time of withdrawal or transfer            beginning of 3rd year of Existing
                                          Guarantee Period
Guaranteed Interest Rate (I)              8%*
Guaranteed Interest Rate for
  new 5-year guarantee (J)                7%*
Remaining Guarantee Period (N)            60 months
Market Value Adjustment
 
                    1 + .08            60/12
 $10,000 x      [( -----------)              - 1]      = $354.57
                1 + .07 + .0025
 
           Amount transferred or withdrawn (adjusted for Market Value
           Adjustment): $10,354.57
 
Sample Calculation 2: Negative Adjustment
 
Amount withdrawn or transferred           $10,000
Existing Guarantee Period                 7 years
Time of withdrawal or transfer            beginning of 3rd year of Existing
                                          Guarantee Period
Guaranteed Interest Rate (I)              8%*
Guaranteed Interest Rate for
  new 5-year guarantee (J)                9%*
Remaining Guarantee Period (N)            60 months
Market Value Adjustment:
 
                     1 + .08            60/12
 $10,000 x       [( -----------)              - 1]      = - $559.14
                 1 + .09 + .0025
 
           Amount transferred or withdrawn (adjusted for Market Value
           Adjustment): $9,440.86
 
Sample Calculation 3: Negative Adjustment
 
Amount withdrawn or transferred           $10,000
Guarantee Period                          7 years
Time of withdrawal or transfer            beginning of 3rd year of Existing
                                          Guarantee Period
Guaranteed Interest Rate (I)              8%*
Guaranteed Interest Rate for
  new 5-year guarantee (J)                7.75%*
Remaining Guarantee Period (N)            60 months
Market Value Adjustment:
 
                      1 + .08               60/12
$10,000 x        [( -------------)]               - 1]      = $0
                 1 + .0775 + .0025
 
           Amount transferred or withdrawn (adjusted for Market Value
           Adjustment): $10,000
------------------------
*Assumed for illustrative purposes only.
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B--SAMPLE DEATH BENEFIT CALCULATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date of Death is the 3rd Contract Anniversary:                                               Example 1    Example 2
                                                                                            -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                                         <C>          <C>
  a. Purchase Payments Made Prior to Date of Death                                           $  20,000    $  20,000
  b. Contract Value on Date of Death                                                         $  17,000    $  25,000
Death Benefit is larger of a, and b.                                                         $  20,000    $  25,000
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date of Death is the 8th Contract Anniversary:                                     Example 3    Example 4    Example 5
                                                                                  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                               <C>          <C>          <C>
  a. Purchase Payments Made Prior to Date of Death                                 $  20,000    $  20,000    $  20,000
  b. Contract Value on 7th Contract Anniversary                                    $  15,000    $  30,000    $  30,000
  c. Contract Value on Date of Death                                               $  17,000    $  25,000    $  35,000
Death Benefit is larger of a, b, and c.                                            $  20,000    $  30,000    $  35,000
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Date of Death is the 15th Contract Anniversary:                                    Example 6    Example 7    Example 8
                                                                                  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                               <C>          <C>          <C>
  a. Purchase Payments Made Prior to Date of Death                                 $  20,000    $  20,000    $  20,000
  b. Contract Value on 14th Contract Anniversary                                   $  15,000    $  40,000    $  40,000
  c. Contract Value on Date of Death                                               $  17,000    $  30,000    $  50,000
Death Benefit is larger of a, b, and c.                                            $  20,000    $  40,000    $  50,000
</TABLE>
 
                                      B-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX C--EXPLANATION OF EXPENSE CALCULATIONS
 
The expense for a given year is calculated by multiplying the projected
beginning of the year policy value by the total expense rate. The total expense
rate is the sum of the variable account expense rate plus the total Series Fund
expense rate plus The annual administrative charge rate.
 
The policy values are projected by assuming a single payment of $1,000 grows at
an annual rate equal to 5% reduced by the total expense rate described above.
 
For example, the 3 year expense for the Growth Stock Series is calculated as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>                                                 <C>
     Total Variable Account Annual Expenses              1.35%
+    Total Series Fund Operating Expenses
=    Total Expense Rate
</TABLE>
 
Year 1 Beginning Policy Value = $1000.00
Year 1 Expense = $1000.00 X    = $
 
Year 2 Beginning Policy Value = $1029.90
Year 2 Expense = $1029.90 X    = $
 
Year 3 Beginning Policy Value = $
Year 3 Expense = $   X    = $
 
So the cumulative expenses for years 1-3 for the Growth Stock Series are equal
to
    $   + $   + $   = $
 
If the contract is surrendered, the surrender charge is the surrender charge
percentage times the purchase payment minus the 10% free withdrawal amount:
 
Surrender Charge Percentage X (Initial Premium - 10% Free Withdrawal) =
Surrender Charge
 
    0.05 X ($1000.00 - $100.00) = $45.00
 
So the total expense if surrendered is $   + $45.00 = $
 
                                      C-1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>
   BULK RATE
 U.S. POSTAGE
</TABLE>
 
FORTIS-R-
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>
     PAID
PERMIT NO. 3794
</TABLE>
 
FORTIS FINANCIAL GROUP
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
</TABLE>
 
P.O. BOX 64284
ST. PAUL, MN 55164
 
PROSPECTUS
MAY 1, 1999