Manulife Bank: Two Credit Cards That Reward Your Health Spending
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Manulife Bank is launching two credit cards that give you up to 2% back on health and wellness spending: the Manulife Bank Visa Infinite* Card, at $139 a year, and the Manulife Bank Visa Platinum Card, with no annual fee. For now, only existing Manulife Bank clients can apply.
According to Manulife's October 22, 2026 announcement, both cards earn points in the new Manulife Better Rewards program, where 100 points are worth $1. Below, we sum up what they earn, who they suit and how they stack up against three well-known cash back cards. For the rest of the bank's lineup, read our Manulife Bank review.
What the Manulife Bank cards earn
Both cards follow the same logic: you get the top rate on health, a middle rate on travel, dining and entertainment, and a base rate on everything else. Caps are calculated per calendar year.
Visa Infinite: 2% back on health
- Health and wellness: 2%, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year
- Travel, dining and entertainment: 1.5%, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year
- All other purchases: 1%, no cap
- Annual fee: $139, waived the first year ($50 per additional card)
- Welcome offer: 10% in rewards on your first $2,000 in purchases over your first three statements, or up to $200, subject to conditions
- Income required: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$200Annual fee rebated$139Total$339Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $339
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to $200 in rewards
Apply Now
on Manulife's website
Visa Platinum: 1.5% on health, no fee
- Health and wellness: 1.5%, on up to $15,000 in purchases per calendar year
- Travel, dining and entertainment: 1%, on up to $15,000 in purchases per calendar year
- All other purchases: 0.5%, no cap
- Annual fee: none
- At account opening: no rewards bonus, but a 1.99% rate for 6 months on balance transfers made within 90 days (3% transfer fee)
What counts as health and wellness
The bonus category goes well beyond the drugstore. Manulife includes, among others:
- pharmacies, dentists, doctors and optometrists;
- care from a licensed therapist: massage therapy, chiropractic, physiotherapy;
- spas, beauty salons and massages;
- fitness clubs, sporting goods and subscriptions to fitness, mental wellness or nutrition apps.
As with any card, the issuer classifies a purchase by the category the merchant reports. We recommend checking your first statement to confirm your pharmacy or clinic earns the health rate. Our guide to the best credit cards for drugstore purchases explains how this works.
Visa Infinite or Platinum: the math
The gap between the two cards is 0.5 percentage points in every category. The Visa Infinite's $139 fee therefore pays for itself from $27,800 in annual spending. Below that threshold, the Platinum leaves you with more money from the second year on.
Take a household that puts $26,400 a year on its card, split as follows:
- Health and wellness: $300 a month
- Dining, travel and outings: $400 a month
- Everyday purchases: $1,500 a month
Here is what each card would earn you in that case:
- Visa Infinite: $324 in rewards, or $185 net from the second year
- Visa Platinum: $192 in rewards, no fee
- First year: the Visa Infinite comes out well ahead, since its fee is waived and the welcome offer adds to the total
Keep the insurance in mind too: the Visa Infinite includes travel medical insurance for 20 days before age 65, but 7 days from age 65. If you travel longer, plan for extra coverage.
How they compare with other cash back cards
The Manulife cards stand out with their health category, which is rare in Canada. Depending on your budget, though, other cash back cards can earn you as much or more. We put them side by side, with their fees, rates and caps.
| Card | Annual fee | Earn rates | Caps | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manulife Bank Visa Infinite* Card | $139, waived the 1st year | 2% health and wellness; 1.5% travel, dining and entertainment; 1% everything else | $25,000 in purchases per calendar year in each of the two bonus categories | Up to $200 in rewards (10% on your first $2,000, first 3 statements), subject to conditions |
| Manulife Bank Visa Platinum Card | $0 | 1.5% health and wellness; 1% travel, dining and entertainment; 0.5% everything else | $15,000 in purchases per calendar year in each of the two bonus categories | No rewards bonus; 1.99% for 6 months on balance transfers (3% fee) |
| Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card | $0 | 2% in 2 categories of your choice (3 with a Tangerine Savings Account), including drugstore and restaurants; 0.5% everything else | None | Up to $100 (10% for 2 months on up to $1,000 in purchases), apply by November 30, 2026, subject to conditions |
| SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express | $119.88 ($9.99 a month; $119 in Quebec) | 4% groceries and gas; 2% everything else | $1,200 cash back per year on groceries at 4% | Up to $250 (10% for the first 3 months, up to $200, plus a $50 credit), subject to conditions |
| BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard | $139, waived the 1st year | 5% groceries; 4% transit; 3% gas; 2% recurring bills; 1% everything else | Per statement: $500 (groceries, recurring bills), $300 (transit, gas) | Up to $650 in value in the 1st year, subject to conditions |
Tangerine: 2% at the drugstore, no fee
Next to the Visa Platinum, this no-fee card lets you pick two 2% categories, or three if you deposit your cash back into a Tangerine Savings Account. Drugstore, restaurants, entertainment and fitness clubs are all on the list, with no cap. Dentists and therapist care are not, however: they earn 0.5%.
- Annual fee
- $0
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$100Total$100Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $100
- Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 2 months
- Up to $100 cash back
- Ends Nov 30, 2026
Apply Now
on Tangerine's website
Amex SimplyCash Preferred: 2% on everything else
For $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month, or $119 a year in Quebec), the American Express card gives you 2% on everything outside groceries and gas, including drugstores, restaurants and travel. Groceries and gas climb to 4%, with a maximum of $1,200 cash back per year on groceries.
- Annual fee
- $119.88
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$200Total$200Plus $50 of bonus paid after the first year, not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $200
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to $250 cash back
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
BMO CashBack World Elite: 5% on groceries
The BMO card charges the same $139 fee, waived the first year, and pays its top rate on groceries: 5% on up to $500 in purchases per statement. If most of your budget goes to the grocery cart, it will earn you more than a health-focused card. To qualify, you need $80,000 in personal income or $150,000 in household income.
- Annual feeNo annual fee the first year
- $0 $139
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$480Annual fee rebated$139Total$619Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $619
- Welcome offerGet 40 points after $2,000 in purchases per month for 12 months
- Up to $480 cash back
Apply Now
on BMO's website
The bottom line
The Manulife Bank cards make the most sense if health and wellness take up a big share of your budget and you already bank with Manulife. If you spend more on groceries or gas, a cash back card built around those categories will likely pay you more. To compare every option, see our ranking of the best cash back credit cards or the credit card comparison tool.
To get the new offers reserved for members, create your free Milesopedia account.
Manulife Bank Credit Cards - Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Manulife Bank credit cards?
For now, only existing Manulife Bank clients can apply, through their online banking. The bank says it will soon welcome new clients. The Visa Infinite also requires $60,000 in personal income or $100,000 in household income.
What does the health and wellness category include?
It covers pharmacies, dentists, doctors, optometrists and care from licensed therapists such as massage therapy or physiotherapy. Spas, fitness clubs, sporting goods and some wellness apps also qualify. The classification still depends on the category each merchant reports.
How much are Manulife Better Rewards points worth?
In the Manulife Better Rewards program, 100 points are worth $1. A 2% rate therefore equals 2 points per dollar spent, or 2 cents in value.
When do the Manulife card caps reset?
Caps are calculated per calendar year: $25,000 per bonus category on the Visa Infinite and $15,000 on the Visa Platinum. Beyond that, your purchases earn the card's base rate until January 1.
Visa Infinite or Visa Platinum: which one should you choose?
The Visa Infinite earns 0.5 percentage points more in every category, but costs $139 a year from the second year on. It becomes more profitable above roughly $27,800 in annual spending. Below that threshold, the no-fee Platinum leaves you with more money.
Does the Visa Infinite travel insurance cover travellers aged 65 and over?
Yes, but for a shorter period. Travel medical insurance covers 20 days per trip before age 65 and 7 days from age 65. For a longer stay, you will need additional coverage.
Do the Manulife cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes. Both cards charge a 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee on purchases in other currencies, like most cards in Canada.