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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
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,
20212020
($ in millions)U.S.InternationalU.S.International
Service cost$100 $93 $86 $74 
Interest cost96 29 109 34 
Expected return on plan assets(188)(104)(194)(103)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(10)(4)(12)(3)
Net loss amortization85 41 75 31 
Termination benefits1 — 3 1 
Curtailments7 — 2 (1)
 $91 $55 $69 $33 
The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
($ in millions)20212020
Service cost$13 $13 
Interest cost11 14 
Expected return on plan assets(20)(19)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit(25)(22)
 $(21)$(14)
In connection with restructuring actions (see Note 4), termination charges were recorded on pension plans related to expanded eligibility for certain employees exiting Merck. Also, in connection with these restructuring actions, curtailments were recorded on pension plans as noted in the table above.
The components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) other than the service cost component are included in Other (income) expense, net (see Note 11), 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.