IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (2024)

by Juli Clover

Extending its partnership with Apple, IBM is now planning to provide its employees with free or discounted Apple Watch models as part of a "Commit to Health" initiative that will see the Apple Watch distributed to employees under their health insurance plans.

Based on the health plan an IBM employee chooses, they can either get a subsidy that covers the full cost of an Apple Watch or the option to purchase an Apple Watch at a reduced price. IBM is likely hoping its employees will take advantage of the Apple Watch's fitness tracking capabilities, racking up steps and meeting exercise goals to stay healthy.

IBM had a similar program that saw employees provided with Fitbit activity trackers, but it is not clear if the Apple Watch is supplementing this program or replacing it. With the Fitbit program, exercising and taking steps let employees accumulate points that were able to be redeemed for merchandise or charitable donations.

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (1)
Several health insurance companies and businesses have teamed up to adopt similar programs in an effort to cut down on healthcare costs, incentivizing exercise and activity with lower premiums and other rewards. Fitbit, for example, works with a large number of companies to incorporate activity tracking into corporate wellness programs.

Most of these programs existed before the Apple Watch launched, but the Apple Watch itself has proven to be a highly useful tool that motivates wearers to exercise, and it's possible additional companies could follow in IBM's footsteps in the future.

The Apple Watch encourages users to stand up once per hour, exercise, and burn calories to achieve goals. Many early Apple Watch adopters have said the device has motivated them to make better lifestyle choices, increasing their daily activity. Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, for example, credits HealthKit and the Apple Watch for his weight loss of 40 pounds.

(Thanks, Eric!)

Update: MacRumors has been informed that IBM will continue working with Fitbit for its corporate wellness program. The Apple Watch will not replace the Fitbit in the program and will instead be offered alongside it.

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Top Rated Comments

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (2)

100 months ago

(Insert random complaint from non-Apple user or hired competitor here)

Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (3)

100 months ago

Will Tim Cook report these as sales (if he ever reports any)?

The insurance company and/or IBM is paying for the watches. So they will be counted as sales for Apple.

This is a a smart move for companies/insurance plans if the watches do encourage employees to improve their health. Also, employees will probably think its cool which is good for morale.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (4)

100 months ago

Filling out IBM job application now...

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (5)

100 months ago

Is this going to require you to send your activity data to IBM and/or its insurer?

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (6)

100 months ago

This is going to become more and more common. Think of it like the Progressive Snapshot for your body. If you can show you're working out more and getting enough sleep, you can get lower insurance because you're taking better care of your body. Much the same as putting the Snapshot in your car shows you don't drive at high risk times or in a high risk way.

Give up some privacy in turn for a discount.

This is actually part of the Affordable Care Act which requires insurers to interact with their customers. If they can build in a way to interact with people about their health then they can meet some of those additional requirements easier.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (7)

100 months ago

Will Tim Cook report these as sales (if he ever reports any)?

So are all those Surface Pro props at NFL games and PGA Tour events counted as sales?

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan (2024)

FAQs

IBM Providing Employees With Free or Reduced Cost Apple Watch as Part of Health Insurance Plan? ›

Extending its partnership with Apple, IBM is now planning to provide its employees with free or discounted Apple Watch models as part of a "Commit to Health" initiative that will see the Apple Watch distributed to employees under their health insurance plans.

What is the IBM benefits program? ›

A retirement program that helps build future financial security through a leading-edge 401(k) plan and other capital accumulation programs. Income protection in case of serious illness, injury or death, including life insurance and disability benefits. Competitive vacation, personal leave and holiday plans.

Can you use HSA for IBM PPO? ›

Health Savings Account (HSA)

If you select the IBM PPO with HSA or IBM Enhanced PPO with HSA as your medical plan option, you will be eligible to earn up to $800 in tax-free HSA contributions for self-only coverage or $1,600 for family coverage.

Is IBM a good company to work for? ›

IBM has a rich history of being a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Since its founding in 1911, IBM has been dedicated to building a culture of conscious inclusion and providing opportunities for all IBMers to make a positive impact on societies around the world while bringing their authentic selves to work.

Does IBM provide life insurance? ›

Life Insurance Program

There are two options available: Optional Term Life (OTL) and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D). You can choose to enroll in one or both.

What is the average pension at IBM? ›

The estimated total pay for a Retired at IBM is $290,924 per year.

Does IBM give signing bonus? ›

IBM Sign-On Bonus

However, IBM does not offer sign-on bonuses for all roles. This means that if you don't receive a IBM sign-on bonus in your initial offer, you'll typically have to negotiate with them to receive one.

What is the rule of 55 for IBM? ›

The Separation from Service exception sometimes called “Rule of 55” or “55 Rule” is an IRS provision that allows workers who leave their job for any reason to start taking penalty-free distributions from their current employer's retirement plan once they've reached age 55.

What is the difference between IBM PPO and PPO plus? ›

The difference between the two is the amount you pay through your paycheck and the deductible you pay when you obtain medical and behavioral health services. Deductible: Under PPO Plus, you will pay a higher monthly contribution for coverage but have a lower individual and family deductible.

Is it better to be on an HSA or a PPO? ›

Although the option of opening an HSA is attractive to many people, choosing a PPO plan may be the best option if you have significant medical expenses. Not facing high deductible payments makes it easier to receive the medical treatment you need, and your healthcare costs are more predictable.

Is it hard to get hired at IBM? ›

Yes, it is hard to get a job at IBM. The company is known to have an extremely rigorous hiring process, with four interview rounds lasting one hour each. The difficulty rating for the interview process at IBM is rated 2.9 out of five.

Which job has highest salary in IBM? ›

Highest paying jobs at IBM
RankJob TitleAverage IBM Salary
1Account Executive$134,367
2Management Consultant$104,647
3Solutions Architect$102,673
4Information Technology Architect$101,863
16 more rows

What is the high salary of IBM? ›

The average IBM salary ranges from approximately ₹ 3,00,000 per year for Operations Coordinator to ₹ 16,87,345 per year for ETL Developer.

How many sick days do you get at IBM? ›

25% of employees with a tenure of Less Than 1 Year say that their PTO policy consists of 20-30 days of paid vacation and sick time. Whereas, 40% of employees with Over 10 Years say they receive 20-30 days of paid vacation and sick time as part of their PTO.

What age can you retire from IBM? ›

65 is the new 55 when it comes to retirement from your IBM firm, meaning you may have the option to work at the same time you claim Social Security benefits.

How much is the IBM referral bonus? ›

Special Care for Children Assistance Plan - Up to a lifetime maximum of $50,000. Employee Referral Bonus Program - Up to $5,000 for every successful referral who is hired by IBM.

How much does IBM match 401k? ›

IBM Matching

Generally, after 1 year of service, IBM will: contribute 1% to your account regardless of your savings levels; match 100% of the first 5% of your Pre-tax or Roth contributions; deposit match at year-end to those on active payroll as of Dec. 15.

What company pays the highest pension? ›

Top 100 Largest Corporate Pension Rankings by Total Assets
  • BT Pension Scheme. ...
  • Ericsson Inc Retirement Plan. ...
  • Ford Motor Company Defined Benefit Master Trust. ...
  • Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund. ...
  • The Hartford Pension Plan. ...
  • NatWest Group Pension Fund. ...
  • Boeing Company Employee Retirement Plans. ...
  • Raytheon Master Pension Trust.

What is the average age of IBM employees? ›

What is the average age of employees at IBM? The most common age range of IBM employees is 20-30 years. 42% of IBM employees are between the ages of 20-30 years. The least common age range of IBM employees is less than 18 years.

How often does IBM give raises? ›

It use to be yearly but then stretched out to 13 to 18 months when the financial condition got tighter. Is definitely a workplace with not discrimination or racial remarks not in my watch. I only received one raise in the 10 years I was there.

How much does a band 10 make at IBM? ›

Band 10 salaries at IBM can range from US$43,921 - US$107,643 per year.

Does IBM have annual bonus? ›

No night shift allowance is given to the employees, no yearly bonus, no much facilities.

What is the new 4 rule for retirement? ›

The “4% rule” is a common approach to resolving that. The rule works just like it sounds: Limit annual withdrawals from your retirement accounts to 4% of the total balance in any given year. This means that if you retire with $1 million saved, you'd take out $40,000 the first year.

What is the 4.7 rule for retirement? ›

Retirees do not need to limit their annual starting withdrawals from retirement savings to 3% to 3.5%, as some financial advisors recommend, he says. Instead, retirees can safely withdraw up to 4.7% a year without threatening to wipe out their retirement savings before 30 years have elapsed.

What is the 25 times rule for retirement? ›

The rule of 25 says you need to save 25 times your annual expenses to retire. To get this number, first multiply your monthly expenses by 12, and then you'll have your annual expenses. You then multiply that annual expense by 25 to get your FIRE number, or the amount you'll need to retire.

Why is PPO so much more expensive? ›

PPOs tend to have higher monthly premiums in exchange for the flexibility to use providers both in and out of network without a referral. Out-of-pocket medical costs can also run higher with a PPO plan.

What is the downside of PPO? ›

Disadvantages of PPO plans

Typically higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs than for HMO plans. More responsibility for managing and coordinating your own care without a primary care doctor.

What are the disadvantages of a PPO? ›

Disadvantages of PPO plans
  • Typically higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs than for HMO plans.
  • More responsibility for managing and coordinating your own care without a primary care doctor.
Aug 31, 2022

Should I get HSA instead of health insurance? ›

HSAs Are Great If You Never Get Sick

So even if you're the model of perfect health right now, you can invest that money for 30-40 years and use it when you're retired. Money in your HSA can even be applied to deductibles, coinsurance, and copays if you decide to switch back to a traditional plan in the future.

Why HSA is better than 401k? ›

The triple-tax-free aspect of an HSA makes it better for tax management than a 401(k). However, since HSA withdrawals can only be used for healthcare costs, the 401(k) is a more flexible retirement savings tool. The fact that an HSA has no RMD gives it more flexibility than a 401(k).

Is it better to have a HSA or low deductible health plan? ›

Low deductibles are best when an illness or injury requires extensive medical care. High-deductible plans offer more manageable premiums and access to HSAs. HSAs offer a trio of tax benefits and can be a source of retirement income.

What is the lowest salary in IBM? ›

Salaries at IBM India Private Limited range from an average of ₹373,626 to ₹2,470,369 a year.

Does IBM pay biweekly? ›

This is in addition to your participation in the IBM Benefits plans. As an employee, you will receive a paycheck on a semi-monthly basis, on or around the 15th and 31st of each month.

How long does it take to get hired at IBM? ›

The hiring process at IBM is extremely competitive, requiring multiple interviews and assessments. Due to the large volume of applicants, IBM often takes over a month to hire for a position.

What are the salary bands at IBM? ›

International Business Machines (IBM) Corp. Jobs by Salary
Job TitleRangeAverage
Software DeveloperRange:$70k - $126kAverage:$95,895
Senior Software EngineerRange:$105k - $188kAverage:$143,748
Data ScientistRange:$78k - $146kAverage:$108,880
Advisory Software EngineerRange:$115k - $156kAverage:$135,098
3 more rows

What does a band 8 make at IBM? ›

IBM Average Salary Levels by Seniority and Years of Experience
PositionBand 6Band 8
Software Engineer$100,000$162,000
Product Designer$97,000$148,000
Data Scientist$122,000$165,000
Sales$188,000$171,000
1 more row
Jan 27, 2023

How much does a band 8 make at IBM? ›

IBM Salary FAQs

What is the salary trajectory of an Advisory Software Engineer (Band 8)? The salary trajectory of an Advisory Software Engineer (Band 8) ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $82,266 per year and goes up to $176,974 per year for the highest level of seniority.

What is IBM CEO salary? ›

BENGALURU: IBM chairman & CEO Arvind Krishna earned $16.5 million in total compensation in 2022, $1 million less compared to 2021, as per regulatory filings. Krishna's base salary remained the same at $1.5 million and he got $8.9 million in stock awards and $2 million in options.

What is IBM employee ranking? ›

It is among the world's largest employers, with over 297,900 employees worldwide in 2022. Despite its relative decline within the technology sector, IBM remains the seventh largest technology company by revenue, and 49th largest overall, according to the 2022 Fortune 500.

What is Band 5 in IBM? ›

Lead Operations Band 5 salary in IBM ranges between ₹ 4.3 Lakhs to ₹ 7.0 Lakhs per year. This is an estimate based on salaries received from employees of IBM. Low Confidence means the data is based on a small number of latest salaries.

Is IBM pension plan fully funded? ›

Exiting 2021, IBM's U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) was funded at 112%. The overall funded status of the Plan makes the transfer of a portion of the pension liabilities and assets to an insurance company a logical next step to further de-risk retirement-related plans.

What are the retirement benefits for IBM? ›

There are two main retirement benefits currently available to IBM employees: the 401(k) Plus Plan (formerly known as he IBM Savings Plan) and the Employees Stock Purchase Plan. Without getting into too much detail, we will give you a basic understanding of how each plan works and what the benefit is.

What is the PTO policy at IBM? ›

IBM's PTO and Vacation policy typically gives 20-30 days off a year with 57% of employees expected to be work free while out of office. Paid Time Off is IBM's 3rd most important benefit besides Healthcare when ranked by employees, with 25% of employees saying it is the most important benefit.

When did IBM stop their pension plan? ›

In 1999, IBM converted its defined benefit plan to a cash balance plan. These two changes in the 1990s were met with controversy. At the end of 2004, IBM closed its defined benefit plan to new hires and instead offered them a 401(k) plan and a stock purchase plan.

Does IBM have a mandatory retirement age? ›

If you postpone retirement beyond age 70½ (or age 72 if you attain age 70½ after 2019), you'll need to begin taking required minimum distributions from any traditional IRAs and IBM-sponsored retirement plans (other than your IBMs current retirement plan), even if you do not need the funds.

Is IBM pension taxable? ›

Withdrawals of annuity earnings are taxed as ordinary income and may be subject to surrender charges plus a 10% federal income tax penalty if made prior to age 59½. Withdrawals reduce annuity contract benefits and values.

How much bonus will I get in IBM? ›

There are no bonuses or other financial compensation.

Do IBM retirees have health insurance? ›

Each year, IBM contributes to (or subsidizes) the cost of benefits and administrative expenses under the IBM retiree medical plan. For Medicare-eligible retirees, there are two types of Retirees eligible for an IBM subsidy.

What is the average retirement package? ›

Average Social Security check

The average monthly Social Security benefit among retired workers is $1,681. In 2023, benefits will be eligible for an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment. That will bring the average Social Security check up to $1,827.

Which employer has the highest 401k match? ›

Making sense of the data below:
CompanyMatchVesting
Walmart6% of compensationImmediately
Accenture6% of compensation2 years
Amazon4% of compensation3 years or 3,000 hours
GoogleUp to IRS limit, or $3,000 matchImmediately
26 more rows
Feb 2, 2023

What is the max salary for 401k match 2023? ›

The 401(k) contribution limit for 2023 is $22,500 for employee contributions and $66,000 for combined employee and employer contributions. If you're age 50 or older, you're eligible for an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions, raising your employee contribution limit to $30,000.

What is the max salary for 401k match? ›

Employers have a higher contribution ceiling

Altogether, the most that can be contributed to your 401(k) plan between both you and your employer is $66,000 in 2023, up from $61,000 in 2022. (Again, those aged 50 and older can also make an additional catch-up contribution of $7,500 in 2023.)

How many hours of PTO is good? ›

What is a good PTO accrual rate? A good PTO accrual rate is 4 hours per bi-weekly pay period. At this rate, you'll earn 104 PTO hours (13 eight-hour days) over the course of the year. Every 1 hour of bi-weekly PTO accrual equates to 3.25 days of annual PTO (or 26 hours) if you're looking for a quick way to do the math.

How many days is good for PTO? ›

If they're talking specifically about vacation days, then 10-20 days of paid vacation is very good. You'll be getting anywhere between two and four weeks off work per year, all of which is paid – and it doesn't include sickness or holidays! In conclusion, it is normal to receive around 10 vacation days per year.

How many hours of PTO do I earn? ›

Multiply your pay period PTO by time worked.

Multiply the amount you accrue each pay period by the number of pay periods you've worked. If you've worked two months without taking any time off and are paid semimonthly, you've accrued 20 hours; 5 PTO hours per pay period times 4 pay periods equals 20.

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