Deferment

Once the repayment period has begun, you may be eligible for periods of deferment during which you may defer repayment of your Primary Care Loan (PCL) principal (and in some cases, interest). Your PCL payments may be deferred for the following circumstances:

• Up to four years in an eligible primary health care residency program.

• Up to three years as a volunteer under the Peace Corps Act, practicing in an eligible primary health care activity.

• Up to three years as a member of a uniformed service. To be eligible for deferment, you must be on sustained full-time active duty practicing in an eligible primary health care activity in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps, or the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

• For periods of advanced professional training in primary health care.

The deferment process is not automatic. For consideration, a Loan Deferment Request must be completed and submitted, along with any required documentation, for review and approval to Student Financial Collections, as follows:

1. by the time your first installment is due;
   
2. annually (may be requested more often) as long as you are eligible for deferment; and
   
3. until your deferment status ends.
   

The deferment request form may be completed online and downloaded for your signature. You may also use the form printed on the back of any billing statement or request a form by contacting a Student Financial Collections representative.