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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
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 of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
($ in millions)
U.S.
 
International
 
U.S.
 
International
Service cost
$
71

 
$
60

 
$
83

 
$
67

Interest cost
114

 
45

 
108

 
46

Expected return on plan assets
(206
)
 
(108
)
 
(214
)
 
(113
)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(12
)
 
(3
)
 
(13
)
 
(3
)
Net loss amortization
35

 
16

 
56

 
21

Termination benefits
2

 
—

 
11

 
—

Curtailments
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

Settlements
—

 
—

 
1

 
—

 
$
4


$
10


$
30


$
18

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 credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
($ in millions)
2019
 
2018
Service cost
$
12

 
$
14

Interest cost
17

 
18

Expected return on plan assets
(18
)
 
(21
)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(21
)
 
(21
)
Termination benefits
—

 
1

Curtailments
—

 
(4
)
 
$
(10
)
 
$
(13
)

In connection with restructuring actions (see Note 4), 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 and settlements 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.