NOTE 13. POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor a number of pension and retiree health and life insurance benefit plans. Principal pension plans are the GE Pension Plan and the GE Supplementary Pension Plan. Principal retiree benefit plans provide health and life insurance benefits to certain eligible participants and these participants share in the cost of the healthcare benefits. 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.



EFFECT ON OPERATIONS OF PENSION PLANS
	Principal pension plans
	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
(In millions)	2018			2017			2018			2017

Service cost for benefits earned	$	203		$	254		$	435		$	543
Prior service cost amortization	36			72			72			145
Expected return on plan assets	(820		)	(849		)	(1,640		)	(1,698		)
Interest cost on benefit obligations	667			712			1,333			1,429
Net actuarial loss amortization	943			697			1,894			1,407
Curtailment loss	—			—			—			43			(a)
Pension plans cost	$	1,029		$	886		$	2,094		$	1,869


(a)	Curtailment loss resulting from our intent to sell the Industrial Solutions business within our Power segment.



	Other pension plans
	Three months ended June 30							Six months ended June 30
(In millions)	2018				2017			2018				2017

Service cost for benefits earned	$	99			$	123		$	194			$	274
Prior service credit amortization	(2		)		(1		)	(2		)		(2		)
Expected return on plan assets	(359		)		(301		)	(717		)		(595		)
Interest cost on benefit obligations	156				145			312				287
Net actuarial loss amortization	83				107			165				210
Settlement gain	(6		)	(a)	—			(6		)	(a)	—
Pension plans cost (income)	$	(29	)		$	73		$	(54	)		$	174


(a)	Settlement gain resulting from the sale of the Industrial Solutions business within our Power segment.



EFFECT ON OPERATIONS OF PRINCIPAL RETIREE BENEFIT PLANS
	Principal retiree benefit plans
	Three months ended June 30						Six months ended June 30
(In millions)	2018			2017			2018			2017

Service cost for benefits earned	$	16		$	26		$	29		$	52
Prior service credit amortization	(58		)	(43		)	(114		)	(86		)
Expected return on plan assets	(7		)	(9		)	(14		)	(18		)
Interest cost on benefit obligations	49			56			98			113
Net actuarial gain amortization	(20		)	(20		)	(40		)	(41		)
Curtailment loss	—			—			—			3			(a)
Retiree benefit plans cost (income)	$	(20	)	$	10		$	(41	)	$	23


(a)	Curtailment loss resulting from our intent to sell the Industrial Solutions business within our Power segment.

The components of net periodic benefit costs other than the service cost component are included in the line item "non-operating benefit costs" in our consolidated Statement of Earnings (Loss).