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Benefit Plans
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Benefit Plans
Benefit Plans:

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)

Net periodic benefit cost (income) consisted of the following: 
 
For the Six Months Ended June 30,
 
For the Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Pension
 
Postretirement
 
Pension
 
Postretirement
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in millions)
Service cost
$
41

 
$
38

 
$
9

 
$
9

 
$
20

 
$
19

 
$
5

 
$
5

Interest cost
138

 
144

 
37

 
40

 
70

 
72

 
18

 
20

Expected return on
plan assets
(292
)
 
(300
)
 
(9
)
 
—

 
(146
)
 
(150
)
 
(4
)
 
—

Amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
112

 
98

 
17

 
16

 
55

 
48

 
8

 
8

Prior service
cost (credit)
2

 
2

 
(21
)
 
(19
)
 
1

 
1

 
(11
)
 
(10
)
Net periodic benefit
cost (income)
$
1

 
$
(18
)
 
$
33

 
$
46

 
$
—

 
$
(10
)
 
$
16

 
$
23



Employer Contributions

Altria makes contributions to the pension plans to the extent that the contributions are tax deductible and pays benefits that relate to plans for salaried employees that cannot be funded under Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations. Employer contributions of $11 million were made to Altria’s pension plans during the six months ended June 30, 2018. Currently, Altria anticipates making additional employer contributions to its pension plans during the remainder of 2018 of up to approximately $30 million, based on current tax law. However, this estimate is subject to change as a result of changes in tax and other benefit laws, as well as asset performance significantly above or below the assumed long-term rate of return on pension assets, changes in interest rates or other considerations. In December 2017, Altria made a contribution of $270 million to a trust to fund certain postretirement benefits. Prior to this contribution, Altria’s postretirement plans were not funded. Altria did not make any employer contributions to its postretirement plans during the six months ended June 30, 2018. Currently, Altria anticipates making employer contributions to its postretirement plans of up to approximately $70 million in 2018. However, this estimate is subject to change as a result of changes in tax and other benefit laws, as well as asset performance significantly above or below the assumed long-term rate of return on postretirement assets or other considerations.