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Employee Benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]  
Employee Benefits [Text Block]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company provides pension and other postretirement benefits to certain employees through three retirement benefit plans: the QEP Resources, Inc. Retirement Plan (the Pension Plan), the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the SERP), and a postretirement medical plan (the Medical Plan).

The Pension Plan is a closed, qualified, defined-benefit pension plan that is funded and provides pension benefits to certain QEP employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made contributions of $2.0 million to the Pension Plan and expects to make an additional $2.0 million to the Pension Plan during the remainder of 2018. Contributions to the Pension Plan increase plan assets. The Pension Plan was amended in June 2015 and was frozen effective January 1, 2016, such that employees do not earn additional defined benefits for future services.

The SERP is a nonqualified retirement plan that is unfunded and provides pension benefits to certain QEP employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made contributions of $0.2 million to its SERP and expects to contribute an additional $0.5 million to its SERP during the remainder of 2018. Contributions to the SERP are used to fund current benefit payments. The SERP was amended and restated in June 2015 and was closed to new participants effective January 1, 2016.

The Medical Plan is a self-insured plan. It is unfunded and provides other postretirement benefits including certain health care and life insurance benefits for certain retired QEP employees. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made contributions of $0.1 million to its Medical Plan and expects to contribute an additional $0.1 million to its Medical Plan during the remainder of 2018. Contributions to the Medical Plan are used to fund current benefit payments.

In February 2017, the Company changed the eligibility requirements for active employees eligible for the Medical Plan, as well as retirees currently enrolled. Effective July 1, 2017, the Company no longer offers the Medical Plan to retirees and spouses that are both Medicare eligible. In addition, the Company no longer offers life insurance to individuals retiring on or after July 1, 2017.

The Company recognizes service costs related to SERP and Medical Plan benefits on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations within "General and administrative" expense. All other expenses related to the Pension Plan, SERP and Medical Plan are recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations within "Interest and other income (expense)".

The following table sets forth the Company's net periodic benefit costs related to its Pension Plan, SERP and Medical Plan:
 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Pension Plan and SERP benefits
(in millions)
Service cost
$
0.2

 
$
0.3

Interest cost
1.1

 
1.2

Expected return on plan assets
(1.4
)
 
(1.3
)
Amortization of prior service costs(1)
0.2

 
0.3

Amortization of actuarial losses(1)
0.3

 
0.3

Periodic expense
$
0.4

 
$
0.8

 
 
 
 
Medical Plan benefits
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service costs(1)
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
Periodic expense
$
(0.1
)
 
$
(0.1
)

____________________________
(1) 
Amortization of prior service costs and actuarial losses out of accumulated other comprehensive income are recognized on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations within "Interest and other income (expense)".