Should I Consolidate My Loans, PSLF, and Buying a Home

Dr. Jimmy Turner hosts a solo Money Meets Medicine mailbag addressing timely physician finance questions, emphasizing that trainees should secure disability insurance before finishing training because guaranteed standard issue (GSI) policies are only available during training and many doctors need them. He explains 2026 federal student-loan changes under OBBBA, advising residents planning aggressive payoff to avoid refinancing in training, exit the defunct SAVE plan, and consider the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) for its interest subsidy and flexibility. He warns fourth-year med students pursuing PSLF not to consolidate loans to skip the grace period, because a post–July 1, 2026 consolidation can eliminate IBR eligibility and lead to much higher payments versus IBR’s cap.  Get $100 off a student loan consult with Student Loan Planner: https://moneymeetsmedicine.com/loans Every doctor needs own-occupation disability insurance. Get it from a source you can trust: https://moneymeetsmedicine.com/disability Want a free copy of The Physician Philosopher’s Guide to Personal Finance? Snag your copy here: https://moneymeetsmedicine.com/freebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.