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Postretirement Benefit Plans
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract] 
Postretirement Benefit Plans

9. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans include the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans generally provide health and life insurance benefits to employees who retire under the GE Pension Plan with 10 or more years of service. Salaried employees who commence service on or after January 1, 2011 and production employees who commence service on or after January 1, 2012 will not be eligible to participate in the GE Pension Plan, but will participate in a defined contribution retirement plan. Other pension plans include the U.S. and non-U.S. pension plans with pension assets or obligations greater than $50 million. Smaller pension plans and other retiree benefit plans are not material individually or in the aggregate. The effect on operations of the pension plans follows.

 Principal Pension Plans
 Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30
(In millions)2011 2010 2011 2010
            
Service cost for benefits earned$296 $275 $857 $844
Prior service cost amortization 49  59  144  178
Expected return on plan assets (984)  (1,084)  (2,953)  (3,254)
Interest cost on benefit obligation 665  678  1,995  2,020
Net actuarial loss amortization 584  331  1,752  993
Pension plans cost$610 $259 $1,795 $781

 Other Pension Plans
 Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30
(In millions)2011 2010 2011 2010
            
Service cost for benefits earned$70 $65 $210 $209
Prior service cost amortization 4  3  12  11
Expected return on plan assets (151)  (126)  (451)  (380)
Interest cost on benefit obligation 131  116  387  360
Net actuarial loss amortization 34  48  103  159
Pension plans cost$88 $106 $261 $359

The effect on operations of principal retiree health and life insurance plans follows.

 Principal Retiree Health
 and Life Insurance Plans
 Three months ended September 30 Nine months ended September 30
(In millions)2011 2010 2011 2010
            
Service cost for benefits earned$ 48 $ 50 $ 140 $ 162
Prior service cost amortization  163   158   482   474
Expected return on plan assets  (24)   (29)   (72)   (87)
Interest cost on benefit obligation  151   175   452   525
Net actuarial gain amortization  (27)   (6)   (83)   (18)
Retiree benefit plans cost$ 311 $ 348 $ 919 $ 1,056