Note 9. Benefit Plans

Pension Plans

Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost:

Net periodic pension cost consisted of the following:


	U.S. Plans						Non-U.S. Plans
	For the Three Months Ended						For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,						March 31,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
				(in millions)

Service cost	$	12		$	13		$	39		$	38
Interest cost		15			16			48			60
Expected return on plan assets		(25	)		(24	)		(104	)		(110	)
Amortization:
Net loss from experience differences		8			9			41			31
Prior service cost/(credit)		1			–			(1	)		(1	)
Settlement losses and other expenses		3			4			1			–

Net periodic pension cost	$	14		$	18		$	24		$	18

For retired employees who elected lump-sum payments in our U.S. plans, we recorded net settlement losses of $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

Employer Contributions:

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we contributed $3 million to our U.S. pension plans and $307 million to our non-U.S. pension plans. The non-U.S. amount included a non-recurring $250 million contribution made in connection with a new funding agreement for a plan in the U.K. We make contributions to our pension plans in accordance with local funding arrangements and statutory minimum funding requirements. Discretionary contributions are made to the extent that they are tax deductible and do not generate an excise tax liability.

As of March 31, 2017, we plan to make further contributions of approximately $10 million to our U.S. plans and approximately $148 million to our non-U.S. plans during the remainder of 2017. Our actual contributions may be different due to many factors, including changes in tax and other benefit laws, significant differences between expected and actual pension asset performance or interest rates.

Postretirement Benefit Plans

Net periodic postretirement health care costs consisted of the following:


	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
	(in millions)

Service cost	$	2		$	3
Interest cost		4			5
Amortization:
Net loss from experience differences		3			2
Prior service credit ⁽¹⁾		(10	)		(2	)

Net periodic postretirement health care costs	$	(1	)	$	8

(1) For the three months ended March 31, 2017, amortization of prior service credit includes an $8 million gain related to a change in the eligibility requirement and a change in benefits to Medicare-eligible participants.

Postemployment Benefit Plans

Net periodic postemployment costs consisted of the following:


	For the Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
	(in millions)

Service cost	$	1		$	2
Interest cost		1			1
Amortization of net gains		(1	)		–

Net periodic postemployment costs	$	1		$	3