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POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]  
POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans are the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans provide health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible participants and these participants share in the cost of the healthcare benefits. 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.
EFFECT ON OPERATIONS OF PENSION PLANS
 
Principal pension plans
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
 
(In millions)
2017

 
2016

 
2017

 
2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost for benefits earned
$
267

 
$
307

 
$
810

 
$
913

 
Prior service cost amortization
73

 
76

 
218

 
228

 
Expected return on plan assets
(847
)
 
(837
)
 
(2,545
)
 
(2,507
)
 
Interest cost on benefit obligations
715

 
736

 
2,144

 
2,205

 
Net actuarial loss amortization
702

 
612

 
2,109

 
1,836

 
Curtailment loss (gain)
—

 
—

 
43

(a)
(1
)
 
Pension plans cost
$
910

 
$
894

 
$
2,779

 
$
2,674

 
(a)
Curtailment loss resulting from our intent to sell the Industrial Solutions business within our Power segment.
 
Other pension plans
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
 
(In millions)
2017

 
2016

 
2017

 
2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost for benefits earned
$
156

 
$
106

 
$
430

 
$
337

 
Prior service credit amortization
(2
)
 
—

 
(4
)
 
(1
)
 
Expected return on plan assets
(324
)
 
(264
)
 
(919
)
 
(786
)
 
Interest cost on benefit obligations
158

 
172

 
445

 
512

 
Net actuarial loss amortization
110

 
68

 
320

 
197

 
Curtailment loss
11

 
—

 
11

(a)
—

 
Pension plans cost
$
109

 
$
82

 
$
283

 
$
259

 

(a)
Curtailment loss resulting from a Canadian manufacturing plant closure.
EFFECT ON OPERATIONS OF PRINCIPAL RETIREE BENEFIT PLANS
 
Principal retiree benefit plans
 
Three months ended September 30
 
Nine months ended September 30
 
(In millions)
2017

 
2016

 
2017

 
2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost for benefits earned
$
25

 
$
32

 
$
77

 
$
84

 
Prior service credit amortization
(42
)
 
(41
)
 
(128
)
 
(123
)
 
Expected return on plan assets
(9
)
 
(11
)
 
(27
)
 
(33
)
 
Interest cost on benefit obligations
55

 
62

 
168

 
188

 
Net actuarial gain amortization
(20
)
 
(12
)
 
(61
)
 
(39
)
 
Curtailment loss
—

 
—

 
3

(a)
—

 
Retiree benefit plans cost
$
9

 
$
30

 
$
32

 
$
77

 

(a)
Curtailment loss resulting from our intent to sell the Industrial Solutions business within our Power segment.