Petco Health and Wellness Employees Should be Aware that the Student Loan Payment Pause was Extended Through January 2022

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for Petco Health and Wellness Petco Health and Wellness collaborates with several healthcare organizations to provide comprehensive employee benefits, including access to health insurance plans through various national providers. In particular, they typically offer employee health coverage managed by prominent insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases for Petco Health and Wellness in 2026 As we look ahead to 2026, Petco Health and Wellness employees may experience significant increases in healthcare costs, mirroring broader trends in the market. The expiration of enhanced federal subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could lead to spikes in out-of-pocket premiums, with some states projecting hikes of over 60%. In this context, many employers, including Petco, are re-evaluating their benefits structure, potentially shifting more costs onto employees through increased deductibles and co-pays. Without decisive action to mitigate these rises, individuals could face substantial financial burdens while seeking necessary care in a high-cost landscape. Click here to learn more

How Petco Health and Wellness employees can navigate federal student loan repayment: This article provides a framework for Petco Health and Wellness employees to understand the current federal student loan landscape and make the most of available repayment options and employer benefits, suggests Tyson Mavar, a representative from The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group.

Wesley Boudreaux of The Retirement Group, a division of Wealth Enhancement Group, advises Petco Health and Wellness employees with federal student loans to take stock of their current repayment plan and explore the updated options available now that the pandemic-era payment pause has ended.

In this article, we will cover:

The end of the federal student loan payment pause: A summary of the pandemic-era moratorium and what happened when repayment resumed.

The effects on Petco Health and Wellness employees: How the current repayment environment affects both personal and Parent PLUS Loans.

New employer benefits and available programs: What Petco Health and Wellness employees can take advantage of under current law.

Background: The student loan payment pause has ended.

Federal student loan repayment resumed on September 1, 2023, after more than three years of pandemic-era relief. The COVID-19 payment pause, which began in March 2020 under the CARES Act, was extended multiple times. After the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling blocked broad student loan cancellation, the final pause ended and repayment restarted. The Department of Education implemented a one-year on-ramp period through October 2024, during which missed payments did not trigger credit reporting -- but interest continued to accrue. As of late 2024, standard monthly repayment is fully in effect for all Petco Health and Wellness employees with federal student loans.

Petco Health and Wellness employees nearing retirement should be aware that Parent PLUS Loans -- federal loans that parents can take out to help pay for their children's education -- resumed repayment along with all other federal loans in 2023. Income-driven repayment (IDR) options remain available for eligible borrowers. Petco Health and Wellness employees should note, however, that the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan -- introduced in 2023 as the most generous IDR option -- was blocked by federal courts in 2024 and is currently in administrative forbearance while legal challenges are resolved. Time spent in SAVE forbearance does not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and borrowers cannot make qualifying PSLF payments while in the plan. Two other IDR plans -- Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR) and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) -- are being phased out and will end in mid-2028. The standard 10-year repayment plan and Income-Based Repayment (IBR) remain fully available.

Does interest accrue during current forbearance periods?

Yes. Unlike the pandemic-era pause, the SAVE administrative forbearance does accrue interest. Petco Health and Wellness employees enrolled in SAVE who are in administrative forbearance may wish to consider voluntary payments to prevent interest buildup.

Do private student loans qualify for income-driven repayment?

No. Petco Health and Wellness employees should remember that private student loans are not eligible for federal IDR plans, PSLF, or federal forbearance protections. Only federal government-held loans -- including Federal Direct Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, and FFEL Program loans held by the Department of Education -- are eligible.

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Petco Health and Wellness employees whose employer offers student loan repayment assistance should be aware of a significant development: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, permanently extended the employer benefit allowing companies to contribute up to $5,250 per year toward an employee's student loan repayment on a tax-free basis. This benefit was originally a temporary CARES Act provision. Petco Health and Wellness employees are encouraged to check with their HR department to determine whether this benefit is available and to contact their loan servicer to review their current repayment plan status.

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Education. 'Federal Student Loan Payment Restart.' StudentAid.gov, 2023,  studentaid.gov/announcements-events/covid-19 .

2. U.S. Department of Education. 'Repayment Plans.' StudentAid.gov, 2025,  studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans .

3. NPR. 'Federal student loans are changing. Here’s what to expect in 2026.' NPR, December 2025,  www.npr.org .

4. U.S. Congress. One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Signed July 2025.

5. Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 'Household Debt and Credit Report.' Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Q4 2025,  www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc .