Employee Benefit Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee Benefit Plans

NOTE 13 — EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

We maintain contributory, defined contribution benefit plans that are available to employees who meet certain minimum requirements. Certain of the plans require that we match specified percentages of participant contributions up to certain maximum levels (generally, 100% of the first 3% to 9%, depending upon years of vesting service, of compensation deferred by participants). The cost of these plans totaled $404 million for 2014, $374 million for 2013 and $371 million for 2012. Our contributions are funded periodically during each year.

We maintain the noncontributory, nonqualified Restoration Plan to provide certain retirement benefits for eligible employees. Eligibility for the Restoration Plan is based upon earning eligible compensation in excess of the Social Security Wage Base and attaining 1,000 or more hours of service during the plan year. Company credits to participants’ account balances (the Restoration Plan is not funded) depend upon participants’ compensation, years of vesting service and certain IRS limitations related to the HCA 401(k) plan. Benefits expense under this plan was $20 million for 2014, $29 million for 2013 and $20 million for 2012. Accrued benefits liabilities under this plan totaled $145 million at December 31, 2014 and $137 million at December 31, 2013.

We maintain a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) for certain executives (the SERP is not funded). The plan is designed to ensure that upon retirement the participant receives the value of a prescribed life annuity from the combination of the SERP and our other benefit plans. Benefits expense under the plan was $31 million for 2014, $43 million for 2013 and $51 million for 2012. Accrued benefits liabilities under this plan totaled $231 million at December 31, 2014 and $214 million at December 31, 2013.

We maintain defined benefit pension plans which resulted from certain hospital acquisitions in prior years. Benefits expense under these plans was $13 million for 2014, $37 million for 2013, and $49 million for 2012. Accrued benefits liabilities under these plans totaled $172 million at December 31, 2014 and $81 million at December 31, 2013.