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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 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 U.S. and in certain of its international subsidiaries. The net periodic benefit cost of such plans (including certain costs reported as part of discontinued operations) consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
2021202020212020
($ in millions)U.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.International
Service cost$98 $87 $88 $73 $198 $179 $175 $146 
Interest cost106 30 109 33 202 59 217 68 
Expected return on plan assets(191)(104)(195)(101)(379)(209)(388)(205)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(11)(4)(12)(3)(20)(9)(25)(6)
Net loss amortization58 38 76 31 142 78 152 62 
Termination benefits52 2 1 — 53 3 4 1 
Curtailments9 (27)— — 16 (27)2 (1)
Settlements— 2 9 2 — 2 9 2 
 $121 $24 $76 $35 $212 $76 $146 $67 
The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2021202020212020
Service cost$13 $13 $26 $26 
Interest cost11 14 22 29 
Expected return on plan assets(20)(19)(39)(37)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit(25)(22)(50)(45)
Termination benefits37 — 37 — 
Curtailments(27)— (28)(1)
 $(11)$(14)$(32)$(28)
Net periodic benefit cost (credit) for pension and other postretirement benefit plans in the second quarter and first six months of 2021 includes expenses for curtailments, settlements and termination benefits provided to certain employees in connection with the spin-off of Organon.
In connection with restructuring actions (see Note 5), termination charges were recorded on pension plans related to expanded eligibility for certain employees exiting Merck. Also, in connection with these restructuring actions, curtailments and settlements 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 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 or in Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Taxes and Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests if related to the spin-off of Organon (each as noted above).
The transfer of employees to Organon in connection with the spin-off triggered remeasurements of some of the Company’s pension plans. These remeasurements, which were calculated using discount rates and asset values as of the date of the spin-off, resulted in a $1.7 billion reduction to net pension liabilities primarily due to higher discount rates. In addition, $99 million of net pension liabilities were transferred to Organon. The remeasurements and plan transfers also resulted in a related adjustment to Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (see Note 15).