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Postretirement Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]  
Postretirement Benefit Plans

9. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans include the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans generally provide health and life insurance benefits to employees who retire under the GE Pension Plan with 10 or more years of service. Salaried employees who commence service on or after January 1, 2011 and any employee who commences service on or after January 1, 2012 will not be eligible to participate in the GE Pension Plan, but will participate in a defined contribution retirement plan. Other pension plans include the U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans with pension assets or obligations greater than $50 million. Smaller pension plans and other retiree benefit plans are not material individually or in the aggregate. The effect on operations of the pension plans follows.

 Principal Pension Plans
 Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30
(In millions)2012 2011 2012 2011
            
Service cost for benefits earned$340 $283 $688 $561
Prior service cost amortization 70  49  140  95
Expected return on plan assets (946)  (985)  (1,891)  (1,969)
Interest cost on benefit obligation 623  667  1,239  1,330
Net actuarial loss amortization 864  596  1,710  1,168
Pension plans cost$951 $610 $1,886 $1,185

 Other Pension Plans
 Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30
(In millions)2012 2011 2012 2011
            
Service cost for benefits earned$109 $72 $194 $140
Prior service cost amortization 1  4  2  8
Expected return on plan assets (157)  (152)  (312)  (300)
Interest cost on benefit obligation 130  130  257  256
Net actuarial loss amortization 71  35  140  69
Pension plans cost$154 $89 $281 $173

The effect on operations of principal retiree health and life insurance plans follows.

 Principal Retiree Health
 and Life Insurance Plans
 Three months ended June 30 Six months ended June 30
(In millions)2012 2011 2012 2011
            
Service cost for benefits earned$ 54 $ 45 $ 110 $ 92
Prior service cost amortization  141   159   292   319
Expected return on plan assets  (18)   (24)   (37)   (48)
Interest cost on benefit obligation  129   150   258   301
Net actuarial gain amortization  0   (27)   0   (56)
Retiree benefit plans cost$ 306 $ 303 $ 623 $ 608