Employee Benefit Plans

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

The components of net periodic benefit cost related to our defined benefit plans were as follows (in millions):



	Pension Plans						Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
	2019			2018			2019			2018
Three months ended September 30:
Service cost	$	29		$	33		$	1		$	2
Interest cost	25			22			2			2
Expected return on plan assets	(41		)	(40		)	—			—
Amortization of:
Net actuarial (gain) loss	10			16			—			(1		)
Prior service credit	(5		)	(5		)	(2		)	(2		)
Special charges	—			2			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	18		$	28		$	1		$	1

Nine months ended September 30:
Service cost	$	89		$	100		$	3		$	5
Interest cost	74			68			8			7
Expected return on plan assets	(124		)	(122		)	—			—
Amortization of:
Net actuarial (gain) loss	30			49			(2		)	(2		)
Prior service credit	(14		)	(14		)	(6		)	(8		)
Special charges	2			7			1			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	57		$	88		$	4		$	2

The components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component (i.e., the non-service cost components) are included in “other income, net” in the statements of income.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, we contributed $120 million and $132 million, respectively, to our pension plans and $13 million and $15 million, respectively, to our other postretirement benefit plans. Of the $120 million contributed to our pension plans during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, $85 million was discretionary and was contributed during the third quarter of 2019.

Our expected contribution to our pension plans has increased to approximately $125 million for 2019 primarily as a result of the discretionary pension contribution discussed above. Our expected contribution of approximately $21 million to our other postretirement benefit plans during 2019 has not changed.