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Post-Employment Benefits
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Post-Employment Benefits  
Post-Employment Benefits

Note 11 — Post-Employment Benefits

 

Retirement plans consist of defined benefit, defined contribution, and medical and dental plans.  Net cost recognized in continuing operations for the three months ended March 31 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

 

(in millions)

 

March 31,
2015

 

March 31,
2014

 

March 31,
2015

 

March 31,
2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$
82

 

$
66

 

$
9

 

$
9

 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligations

 
79

 
77

 
15

 
16

 

Expected return on plan assets

 
(129

)
(113

)
(10

)
(10

)

Net amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actuarial loss, net

 
47

 
25

 
9

 
5

 

Prior service cost (credit)

 

—

 
1

 
(12

)
(9

)

Total cost

 
79

 
56

 
11

 
11

 

Less: Discontinued operations

 
1

 
4

 

—

 

—

 

Net cost — continuing operations

 

$
78

 

$
52

 

$
11

 

$
11

 

 

Abbott funds its domestic defined benefit plans according to IRS funding limitations.  International pension plans are funded according to similar regulations.  In the first quarters of 2015 and 2014, $529 million and $312 million, respectively, were contributed to defined benefit plans and $24 million and $40 million, respectively, were contributed to the post-employment medical and dental benefit plans.