[SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP] MARY E. THORNTON DIRECT LINE: 202.383.0698 Internet: mary.thornton@sablaw.com May 4, 2006 VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. 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 and statement of additional information dated May 1, 2006 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, or Lisa A. Pellegrino of our firm at (202) 383-0387, if you have any questions or comments regarding this transmittal. Sincerely, /s/ Mary E. Thornton Mary E. Thornton Attachment cc: Kirsty Lieberman, Esq. Lisa A. Pellegrino, Esq.