14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has a defined contribution plan for most of its domestic employees. Under these plans, eligible employees may contribute amounts through payroll deductions supplemented by employer contributions for investment in various investments specified in the plans. The Company contributions to these plans were $445, $212 and $341 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The Company provides post-retirement medical benefits to certain former domestic employees who met minimum age and service requirements. In 1999, a plan amendment was instituted which limits the liability for post-retirement benefits beginning January 1, 2000 for certain employees who retire after that date. This plan amendment resulted in a $1,100 unrecognized prior service cost reduction which is recognized as employees render the services necessary to earn the post-retirement benefit. The Company’s policy is to pay the cost of these post-retirement benefits when required on a cash basis. The Company also has provided certain foreign employees with retirement related benefits.

The following table presents the amounts recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2017 and 2016 for post-retirement medical benefits:


		2017		2016
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
Projected benefit obligation at January 1	$	604	$	645
Interest cost		19		27
Actuarial loss		(7)		24
Participant contributions		15		23
Benefits paid		(98)		(115)
Projected benefit obligation at December 31		533		604
Change in fair value of plan assets:
Employer contributions		83		92
Participant contributions		15		23
Benefits paid		(98)		(115)
Funded status		(533)		(604)
Current liabilities		78		103
Noncurrent liabilities		455		501
Net amount recognized		533		604
Amount recognized in other comprehensive income		-		-
Unrecognized net actuarial gain		-		-
Total	$	-	$	-

Accrued post-retirement medical benefit costs are classified as other post-retirement benefit obligations as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Net periodic post-retirement medical benefit costs for 2017, 2016, and 2015 included the following components:

For measurement purposes, a 5.8% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) was assumed for 2017; the rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 4.6% by the year 2066 and remain at that level thereafter. The difference in the health care cost trend rate assumption may have a significant effect on the amounts reported.

The assumptions used for the years ended December 31 were as follows:


	2017		2016		2015
Annual increase in cost of benefits	5.8	%	5.9	%	7.0	%
Discount rate used to determine year-end obligations	3.3	%	3.3	%	4.5	%
Discount rate used to determine year-end expense	3.3	%	4.5	%	4.5	%

In addition to the post-retirement medical benefits, the Company provides retirement related benefits to certain former executive employees and to certain employees of foreign subsidiaries. The liabilities established for these benefits at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are illustrated below.


		2017		2016
Current portion	$	93	$	93
Long-term portion		772		737
Total liability at December 31	$	865	$	830

The Company calculated the fair values of the pension plans above utilizing a discounted cash flow, using standard life expectancy tables, annual pension payments, and a discount rate of 4.5%.

Employer benefit payments (medical and pension), which reflect expected future service, are expected to be paid in the following years:


2018	$	198
2019		186
2020		174
2021		164
2022		153
Years 2023-2027		523