Idaho Candidates for Governor Talk About Census, Telehealth

AARP asked candidates for Idaho governor how they plan to keep older consumers in Idaho, encourage full census participation, reverse the trend of under-saving for retirement, and increase access to telehealth.

QUESTION 1:  Americans aged 50 and older contribute more than $7 trillion to the US economy and in Idaho that amounts to more than $28 billion.  What will you do to ensure that older consumers will want to remain in Idaho and to foster their continued economic contributions to the state’s economy?

QUESTION 2: Given that 40 percent of the 2020 census is expected to be conducted online, there is a growing concern that this will create an opportunity for identity theft, phishing scams and other forms of fraud, creating a hesitancy to participate. What would you do to address these concerns and encourage full participation in the census to ensure that all Idahoans are accurately counted?

QUESTION 3:  275,796 residents in our state don’t have a way to save for retirement at work. Knowing that employees are 15 times more likely to save merely by having access to payroll deduction, what can you commit to do to reverse the trend of under saving for retirement, above and beyond education efforts?

QUESTION 4: Telehealth helps older adults, people with disabilities, those with language access issues, and all Idahoans access health and home and community care in new ways and makes it easier for family caregivers to care for their loved ones.  What would you do to help family caregivers and their loved ones have greater access to telehealth?