Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2014 and 2013 is as follows:



	December 31
	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	293,850		$	347,798
Service cost	3,081			3,692
Interest cost	13,979			12,496
Plan participants’ contributions	13			12
Plan amendments	(411		)	—
Actuarial (gain) loss	57,716			(45,076		)
Benefits paid	(22,462		)	(25,072		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	345,766			293,850
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	270,123			251,094
Actual return on plan assets	28,980			32,558
Employer contributions	14,338			11,531
Plan participants’ contributions	13			12
Benefits paid	(22,462		)	(25,072		)
Plan settlements	(1,466		)	—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	289,526			270,123
Funded status at end of year	$	(56,240	)	$	(23,727	)

The following table sets forth the funded status of these plans:



	December 31
	2014			2013
	(In thousands)
Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	37,230		$	37,428
Service cost	824			816
Interest cost	1,663			1,223
Employee contributions	380			415
Actuarial (gain) loss	895			(1,102		)
Benefits paid	(1,866		)	(1,550		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	39,126			37,230
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	—			—
Funded status	$	(39,126	)	$	(37,230	)

Summary of Actuarial Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 follows:



	December 31
	2014		2013
Healthcare inflation:
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.70	%	7.90	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)	4.50	%	4.50	%
Year of ultimate rate achievement	2029		2029
Weighted average discount rate	3.85	%	4.64	%

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost follows:



	Year Ended December 31
	2014		2013		2012
Healthcare inflation:
Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year	7.90	%	8.20	%	8.50	%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)	4.50	%	4.50	%	4.50	%
Year of ultimate rate achievement	2029		2029		2029
Weighted average discount rate	4.64	%	3.38	%	4.34	%

Net Periodic Benefit Cost



	Year Ended December 31
	2014			2013			2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	3,081		$	3,692		$	3,068
Interest cost	13,979			12,496			14,001
Expected return on plan assets	(18,761		)	(18,531		)	(17,413		)
Amortizations:
Unrecognized transition obligation	—			—			112
Prior service cost	787			791			759
Unrecognized net loss	5,105			11,759			11,667
Effect of settlement	538			(136		)	—
Other	—			329			774
Net periodic benefit cost	$	4,729		$	10,400		$	12,968



	Year Ended December 31
	2014		2013		2012
	(In thousands)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service and interest cost	$	2,487	$	2,039	$	1,939
Amortizations:
Prior service cost	65		26		26
Unrecognized net loss	75		298		129
Other	98		2,286		1,868
Net periodic benefit cost	$	2,725	$	4,649	$	3,962

Effects of One Percent Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates

A one percent change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:



	1-Percentage- Point Increase		1-Percentage- Point Decrease
	(In thousands)
Effect on total of service and interest cost components	$	326	$	(275	)
Effect on postretirement obligation	4,285		(3,657		)

Estimated Pension Plan Benefit Payments to Participants for Next Ten Years

stimated pension plan benefit payments to participants for the next ten years are as follows:



2015	$	18.2	million
2016	18.5		million
2017	19.1		million
2018	19.6		million
2019	19.8		million
Next five years	105.7		million

Estimated postretirement health care plan benefit payments for the next ten years are as follows:



2015	$	2.6	million
2016	2.6		million
2017	2.6		million
2018	2.6		million
2019	2.8		million
Next five years	14.6		million