[SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP] MARY E. THORNTON DIRECT LINE: 202.383.0698 Internet: mary.thornton@sablaw.com May 28, 2004 VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C (File No. 333-73544) ------------------------------------------------------ Commissioners: On behalf of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (the "Company") and Merrill Lynch Life Variable Annuity Separate Account C (the "Account"), I hereby certify that the form of prospectus dated May 1, 2004, and the statement of additional information dated May 1, 2004, as revised May 14, 2004, that would have been filed pursuant to paragraph (c) of Rule 497 would not have differed from that contained in the most recent amendment to the registration statement. The text of the most recent amendment has been filed electronically. Please contact the undersigned at (202) 383-0698 if you have any questions or comments regarding this transmittal. Sincerely, /s/ Mary E. Thornton Mary E. Thornton Attachment cc: Edward W. Diffin, Jr., Esq. Frances C. Grabish, Esq.