Student Loan Changes For Physicians

Student loan rules are changing again. In this episode of Doctors Eyes Only, Vestia CEO Lauren Oschman, CFP®, CDFA® talks with Vestia Financial Advisor Chris Robbins, CFP® about how the recent “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” impacts physicians with federal student loans.

Topics covered include:

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains available for physicians working at nonprofit hospitals and academic institutions.
• The SAVE plan is being eliminated. RAP (Repayment Assistance Plan) is expected to take its place, while older plans like PAYE, REPAYE, and ICR will be phased out by July 2026.
• IBR remains an option, with payments based on either 15 percent or 10 percent of discretionary income depending on when the loans originated. After 2026, IBR will no longer be available for new borrowers.
• SAVE forbearance months do not count toward PSLF, unlike COVID forbearance. Chris explains how physicians can return to qualifying repayment plans.
• The buyback program may allow borrowers to make up missed or disqualified payments after completing 120 months of qualifying employment, but its future is uncertain.
• Best practices include submitting employer certification forms annually and using the Loan Simulator at studentaid.gov to review repayment options.
• Refinancing through private lenders may make sense for some physicians, though federal protections and PSLF eligibility are lost once loans are moved out of the federal system.

If you are a physician with questions about student loan repayment, PSLF eligibility, or refinancing, connect with our team at www.vestiaadvisors.com/contact/.

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