John Hancock Variable Insurance Trust
Supplement dated May 17, 2013
to the Prospectus April 26, 2013

The fifth paragraph under the heading "Principal Investment Strategies" is revised and restated as follows:

Depending on the subadviser's current opinion as to the proper allocation of assets among domestic and foreign issuers, investments that are economically tied to foreign (non-U.S.) countries will normally be at least 25% of the fund's net assets. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities and instruments that are economically tied to emerging countries. The fund may invest up to 10% of its total assets in fixed-income securities that are rated below investment grade but rated B or higher by Moody's or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch, or, if unrated, determined by the subadviser to be of comparable quality (except that within such limitations, the fund may invest in mortgage-related securities and variable rate master demand notes rated below B). The fund may invest in baskets of foreign currencies (such as the euro) and directly in currencies. The average portfolio duration of the fund normally varies within three years (plus or minus) of the duration of the benchmark index, as calculated by the subadviser.