The economic hardship deferment for student loans used to be calculated using the "20/220 pathway" debt-to-income ratio formula. This qualified most residents, who are carrying a high debt burden and making a modest income, to postpone their student loan payments for the first few of their residency. Even this small reprieve made all the difference for housestaff who are locked in the stressful exhaustion of residency.

But now Congress is discontinuing the 20/220 pathway formula. Under the proposed new formula, residents will either have to begin repaying their student loans right away or go into loan forbearance--adding more interest on top of their already-high debt burden.

With a median debt burden for medical school graduates of nearly $150,000 for private institutions and over $119,000 for public, the cost for a medical degree has never been higher.

And with 86% of new doctors carrying debt from medical school, you know someone who will be affected by this change in the laws governing student loans.

In fact, it's probably you!

Let Congress know that the first years of residency are stressful enough. Sign our petition to reinstate the 20/220 pathway formula.