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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
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 (credit) of such plans consisted of the following components: 
Three Months Ended
September 30,		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024202320242023
($ in millions)U.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.InternationalU.S.International
Service cost$100 $60 $88 $48 $273 $182 $239 $148 
Interest cost134 74 130 76 403 220 396 225 
Expected return on plan assets(206)(139)(182)(131)(621)(416)(553)(390)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service (credit) cost
— (3)— (6)— (10)(1)5 
Net loss (gain) amortization
12 1 — (1)30 4 — (2)
Termination benefits1 — 1 — 5 — 2 — 
Curtailments— — — — — — 5 — 
Settlements— — — — — — 26 — 
 $41 $(7)$37 $(14)$90 $(20)$114 $(14)
The Company provides medical benefits, principally to its eligible U.S. retirees and similar benefits to their dependents, through its other postretirement benefit plans. The net credit of such plans consisted of the following components: 
  Three Months Ended
September 30,		Nine Months Ended
September 30,
($ in millions)2024202320242023
Service cost$7 $8 $23 $24 
Interest cost14 16 42 47 
Expected return on plan assets(20)(16)(60)(48)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service credit(11)(12)(32)(37)
Net gain amortization(14)(11)(38)(31)
Curtailments— — — (1)
 $(24)$(15)$(65)$(46)
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 activities, curtailments were recorded on certain pension plans. In addition, lump sum payments to U.S. pension plan participants triggered partial settlement charges in the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. These partial settlements triggered remeasurements of some of the Company’s U.S. pension plans. The third quarter 2023 remeasurement, which was calculated using discount rates and asset values as of September 30, 2023, resulted in a net decrease of $34 million to net pension liabilities and a related adjustment to AOCL. Remeasurements during the first nine months of 2023 resulted in a net increase of $13 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 related to restructuring actions.