Here at Nursa, while, we dedicate ourselves to connecting facilities and healthcare workers in order to fill PRN shifts. We also report on and write about the most critical healthcare news, so you never have to worry about what is happening in the healthcare world.
Healthcare Industry Affected By Change in 2022
As we all know, 2022 has brought many fantastic and unfortunate changes. As of August 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to reduce debt for Americans with federal student loans. Although this comes with some requirements, those who meet the qualifications can have anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 taken off of their student loans. For those who qualify in the healthcare field, this is fantastic news if they are still struggling with nursing student loans.
The news of this loan forgiveness plan can and will be a life changer for many nurses. Although diving into the necessary education required for the job you desire seems like an extravagant option, the expense of this education can quickly become a lifelong burden, affecting around 45 million U.S. citizens who still owe student loan debt. In addition, approximately 70% of all nurses still have student debt. Adding to this debt burden, registered nurses (RNs) are considered to have some of the most expensive student loan debt.
How to Apply for Student Loan Debt Forgiveness
As of the time we are writing this, the applications for the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness plan are not yet open; however, they will be available no later than when the pause on federal student loan repayments comes to an end on December 31st, according to the announcement by The White House. This statement further said that the loan forgiveness application forms would be available online by the first week of October. After this, individuals will have until December 31st to complete their applications. However, it is recommended by officials to apply before November 15th to receive forgiveness before the pause on student loan payments expires on December 31st.
In addition to the plan introduced by the Biden administration, the federal government and the individual states offer a significant number of nursing student loan forgiveness programs. Some of these programs include the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment (NCLR), Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Perkins Loan Cancellation (PLC), Army Nurse Corps (ANC), Disadvantaged Faculty Loan Repayment Program (DFLRP), and even more.
Does Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Apply to Me?
Although the announcement of student loan debt forgiveness seems to be a dream come true, it's critical to remember that with this significant announcement comes some requirements and qualifications you must meet to receive forgiveness on your student debt. The essential first requirement you have to meet to qualify for the forgiveness program introduced by the Biden administration is you must make less than $125,000 per year. This requirement will be followed by various other qualifications you must meet, depending on your profession. Although the conditions are unknown for different occupations under the Biden administration's plan, other nursing student debt forgiveness programs have their requirements.
All of this being considered, if you happen to consider one of the other forgiveness programs that are offered to nurses all over the states, you'll have to do extensive research into the specific program you're interested in, as well as consider the requirements to qualify for forgiveness within the program. For example, to allow for forgiveness through NCLR, you must be an RN, APRN, or nurse faculty with student debt, have a degree from an accredited school, work in a CSF, or teach nursing.
How Does Student Loan Forgiveness Impact Nurses?
As previously noted, nursing student debt today still burdens over half of our nurses, leaving a lifelong chore for anyone who has taken the necessary education to enter the nursing field. The news of this new plan to reduce student debt is incredibly impactful to nurses and healthcare workers alike, knowing that a hefty amount can be removed from what they owe. Overall, knowing nursing student loans can leave a negative impact on those who are in debt for countless years, being able to remove even a tiny amount of debt from what is owed is sure to assist many. If you are looking to receive forgiveness on your nursing student debt, keep an eye out for the forgiveness application forms to open or research the program that seems right for you.
