· · 2 sources ·Updated

Drake Bell Criticizes SAG-AFTRA After Being Denied Health Insurance Coverage

Actor Drake Bell posted a screenshot of his rejection from the SAG-AFTRA health plan on Instagram on Tuesday.

Drake Bell Blasts SAG-AFTRA After Losing Health Insurance: ‘Do Not Become an Actor. Do Not Join SAG’
File photo Drake Bell Blasts SAG-AFTRA After Losing Health Insurance: ‘Do Not Become an Actor. Do Not Join SAG’ Photo: Variety

Earnings Fall Short of Requirements

The union website stated that Bell earned $17,480.53 during the period from July 2025 to June 2026. He requires an additional $11,452.47 in earnings to meet the minimum threshold for coverage. The specific requirement cited is a total of $28,933 needed to qualify for the plan.

Bell Questions Union Leadership

In his message, Bell wrote that actors can work for 35 years and still be denied coverage. He tagged SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin and suggested the organization should stop using actors to run its affairs. Bell argued that current leadership members only know how to perform in front of a camera.

Union Did Not Respond

The Hollywood Reporter reported that it reached out to SAG-AFTRA for comment regarding the situation. The outlet stated it had not received a response at the time of publication. Bell has recently focused his career on music and voice work after his acting slowed down.

All 2 outlets report consistently

No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.

  • Variety
  • The Hollywood Reporter

Reported by

2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.