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Post-Employment Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Note 5 — Post-Employment Benefits

Retirement plans consist of defined benefit, defined contribution, and medical and dental plans. Net cost for the three and nine months ended September 30 for Abbott’s major defined benefit plans and post-employment medical and dental benefit plans is as follows:

	Defined Benefit Plans												Medical and Dental Plans
	Three Months						Nine Months						Three Months						Nine Months
	Ended Sept. 30						Ended Sept. 30						Ended Sept. 30						Ended Sept. 30
(dollars in millions)	2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Service cost — benefits earned during the period	$	92		$	95		$	285		$	251		$	16		$	14		$	45		$	41
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	114			131			340			350			20			22			61			66
Expected return on plans’ assets	(153		)	(171		)	(460		)	(471		)	(8		)	(9		)	(25		)	(25		)
Settlement	—			36			—			36			—			—			—			—
Net amortization	55			43			180			125			(3		)	(1		)	(6		)	(3		)
Net Cost	$	108		$	134		$	345		$	291		$	25		$	26		$	75		$	79

Abbott funds its domestic defined benefit plans according to IRS funding limitations. International pension plans are funded according to similar regulations. In the first nine months of 2012 and 2011, $360 million and $390 million, respectively, was contributed to defined benefit plans and $40 million was contributed to the post-employment medical and dental benefit plans in each period.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for postemployment benefits, which may include supplemental unemployment benefits, obligations recognized for all types of benefits provided to former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries, and covered dependents after employment but before retirement. Disclosure may also include discussion that an obligation for postemployment benefits is not accrued in accordance with regulation only because the amount cannot be reasonably estimated.

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