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Cancer Treatment Deferment Request: Physician Section

Federal student loan borrowers receiving cancer treatment can defer payments during treatment and for six months after it ends, and the deferment rests on a physician's certification. Section 4 of the eight-page Federal Student Aid form asks whether the borrower is receiving or scheduled for treatment, whether it has ended, and the start and expected end dates.

Who completes it

The borrower completes Sections 1 to 3 and signs. A doctor of medicine or osteopathy legally authorized to practice completes and signs Section 4, the Physician Certification, or writes separate documentation with the same information.

Submitting and payment

How to submit it
The physician returns the form to the borrower, who sends pages 1 to 3 (omitting pages 4 to 8) and any documentation to the loan servicer or holder; a separate request goes to each loan holder.
Who pays
Federal Student Aid sets no fee for the certification and the form does not say who pays the physician.

Good to know

  • Loans must have been made on or after September 28, 2018, or have entered repayment on or before that date, under the Direct Loan, FFEL or Perkins programs.
  • No interest is charged during this deferment on most Direct, Perkins and Stafford loan types; FFEL PLUS, FFEL unsubsidized consolidation and SLS loans still accrue interest.
  • The physician certifies, to the best of their knowledge and medical judgment, that the information is accurate and that they are an MD or DO legally authorized to practice.
  • The form is OMB No. 1845-0011, expiring 12/31/2027, and borrowers keep paying until the servicer confirms the deferment is granted.

Get the official form

Download the current version from the source each time; forms change without notice.

Cancer Treatment Deferment Request

Official pagePDF

How this list is checked

A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can sign the Cancer Treatment Deferment Request?

Only a doctor of medicine or osteopathy who is legally authorized to practice medicine. The physician certifies the treatment information to the best of their knowledge and best medical judgment, and adds name, phone, address, signature and date in Section 4.

Can a doctor's letter be used instead of Section 4?

Yes. The borrower may attach separate documentation from an MD or DO legally authorized to practice medicine, as long as it includes all the information Section 4 asks for: whether treatment is scheduled or underway, whether it has been completed, and when it began and is expected to end.

How long does the cancer treatment deferment last?

It covers the period of cancer treatment and the six months after treatment ends. Borrowers must keep making payments until their servicer notifies them that the deferment has been granted, or the loans can become delinquent.