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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2022
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
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 in the first six months of 2021) consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
2022202120222021
($ in millions)U.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.International
Service cost$99 $72 $98 $87 $198 $147 $198 $179 
Interest cost103 37 106 30 206 75 202 59 
Expected return on plan assets(197)(98)(191)(104)(393)(199)(379)(209)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit
(8)(3)(11)(4)(16)(7)(20)(9)
Net loss amortization56 25 58 38 112 50 142 78 
Termination benefits1 — 52 2 1 — 53 3 
Curtailments4 — 9 (27)8 — 16 (27)
Settlements101 — — 2 101 — — 2 
 $159 $33 $121 $24 $217 $66 $212 $76 
The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
June 30,		Six Months Ended
June 30,
($ in millions)2022202120222021
Service cost$12 $13 $25 $26 
Interest cost11 11 23 22 
Expected return on plan assets(21)(20)(43)(39)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit(25)(25)(50)(50)
Termination benefits— 37 — 37 
Curtailments— (27)— (28)
 $(23)$(11)$(45)$(32)
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 activities, curtailments and settlements were recorded on certain pension plans. In addition, lump sum payments to U.S. pension plan participants triggered a partial settlement resulting in a charge of $101 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022. This partial settlement triggered a remeasurement of some of the Company’s U.S. pension plans. This remeasurement, which was calculated using discount rates and asset values as of June 30, 2022, resulted in a net decrease of $165 million to net pension liabilities and also resulted in a related adjustment to AOCL.
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 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).