Note 6 Retiree Health and Life Benefits GE and its affiliates sponsor a number of retiree health and life insurance benefit plans.
Retirees share in the cost of health care benefits.
Benefit provisions are subject to collective bargaining. At the end of 1998, these plans covered approximately 250,000 retirees and dependents. The effect on operations of principal retiree benefit plans is shown in the following table. Funding policy for retiree health benefits is generally to pay covered expenses as they are incurred. GE funds retiree life insurance benefits at its discretion.