Products June 13, 2007

Calvert Responds to Investor Concern with Alternative Energy Fund

June 13, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - In response to results of its recent survey about climate change and alternative energy, Calvert has launched the Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund.
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According to a press release, the fund invests in a broad universe of U.S. and non-U.S. stocks, seeking companies that are alternative energy market leaders as well as those building a significant presence in the sector. KBC Asset Management International, a Dublin-based firm, will be sub-adviser to the new fund.

“The Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund is a sector-specific fund that offers exposure to alternative energy with attractive diversification potential for both socially responsible (SRI) and non-SRI global investors,” said Steve Falci, Calvert’s Chief Investment Officer, Equities, in the press release.

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The “Calvert Climate Change/Alternative Energy Survey” found that more than three out of four U.S. investors (76%) are concerned “about global warming and what climate change could mean in terms of major changes” during their lifetime and those of their children and grandchildren.  In addition, the release said nearly nine out of 10 respondents (85%) agreed that alternative energy investments – such as wind, solar and other sources of clean power – represent a dual opportunity to support the environment and generate profit at the same time. 

However, Calvert found that only one in five investors who use a financial professional responded affirmatively when asked if they had discussed investing in alternative energy with a financial adviser. The survey was conducted for Calvert by Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) and polled 1,094 investors.

More information on the Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund and an Executive Summary of Calvert’s survey can be found at  www.calvert.com .

Benefits June 12, 2007

Are Health Care Costs Keeping You Up at Night?

June 12, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - If health care costs are keeping you up at night, you could be making things worse.
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Kathleen Foley, PhD, of Thomson Medstat has just conducted a study that suggests that the health-care costs of patients with insomnia are higher than for those without insomnia.

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According to the results, unadjusted annual health plan-paid costs for insomnia patients were approximately three times higher ($8,978) compared to controls ($2,790). Further, adjusted health plan-paid inpatient costs were 48-79% higher, outpatient costs 49-74% higher, and prescription costs 69-100% higher for insomnia patients. Unadjusted mental health related costs for patients with insomnia were approximately seven times greater ($461) than those for controls ($64). Out-of-pocket costs for insomnia patients were roughly twice ($1,000) that of the control group ($448).

Foley based this study on a retrospective analysis of health insurance claims data in the United States. Patients were selected if they were diagnosed with insomnia or received a prescription drug for insomnia in 2002 or 2003. A control group of patients was identified during the same study period.

“Even for controlling for associated comorbidities, health plans and patients paid significantly higher health care costs for patients with insomnia compared to patients without insomnia,” said Foley in a press release. The research abstract was to be presented at SLEEP 2007, the 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Insomnia Defined

Insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. These disorders may also be defined by an overall poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. About 30 percent of adults have insomnia. It is more common among elderly people and women. Some medical conditions cause insomnia, or it may be a side effect of a medication.

Experts recommend that adults get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night to maintain good health and optimum performance.

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