Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering eligible employees in the United States and in certain of its international subsidiaries. The net periodic benefit cost (credit) of such plans consisted of the following components:



	Three Months Ended June 30,												Six Months Ended June 30,
	2018						2017						2018						2017
($ in millions)	U.S.			International			U.S.			International			U.S.			International			U.S.			International
Service cost	$	85		$	58		$	77		$	63		$	168		$	125		$	154		$	124
Interest cost	107			45			113			42			215			91			226			83
Expected return on plan assets	(211		)	(108		)	(218		)	(97		)	(425		)	(221		)	(436		)	(191		)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit	(13		)	(3		)	(13		)	(3		)	(25		)	(7		)	(27		)	(5		)
Net loss amortization	56			21			44			24			112			43			89			47
Termination benefits	7			—			3			1			17			—			8			2
Curtailments	5			(1		)	1			(1		)	3			(1		)	4			(1		)
Settlements	—			4			—			—			1			4			—			—
	$	36		$	16		$	7		$	29		$	66		$	34		$	18		$	59

The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net cost (credit) of such plans consisted of the following components:



	Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
($ in millions)	2018			2017			2018			2017
Service cost	$	14		$	14		$	28		$	28
Interest cost	18			20			35			40
Expected return on plan assets	(21		)	(20		)	(41		)	(39		)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit	(21		)	(24		)	(42		)	(49		)
Termination benefits	1			—			2			1
Curtailments	(2		)	(2		)	(6		)	(5		)
	$	(11	)	$	(12	)	$	(24	)	$	(24	)

In connection with restructuring actions (see Note 5), termination charges were recorded on pension and other postretirement benefit plans related to expanded eligibility for certain employees exiting Merck. Also, in connection with these restructuring actions, curtailments were recorded on pension and other postretirement benefit plans as reflected in the tables above.

The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than the service cost component are included in Other (income) expense, net (see Note 12), with the exception of certain amounts for termination benefits, curtailments and settlements, which are recorded in Restructuring costs if the event giving rise to the termination benefits, curtailment or settlement is related to restructuring actions as noted above.