Drake Bell slams SAG-AFTRA as several celebs raise concerns over losing health insurance
American actor Drake Bell has directly called out the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) as several fellow celebrities have raised similar concerns over losing health insurance.
The 40-year-old Drake & Josh star took to Instagram earlier this week on Tuesday (13 October) to share a statement with his 4.2 million followers urging them not to 'become an actor'.
He posted a screenshot of the SAG-AFTRA health plan website to his Instagram Stories, which stated that he does not qualify for health insurance.
The website reads: "You do not qualify for Health Plan coverage at this time."
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It adds: "Your reported covered earnings from July 2025-June 2026 did not meet minimum eligibility requirements, or you did not qualify under other eligibility rules."
The website outlines that Bell has earned $17,480.53 from July 2025 to June 2026 and that he needs $11,452.47 more to qualify for health insurance, as $28,933 is what is required for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan.
Bell's overlay text read: "Do not become an actor.
"Do not join SAG. You can work steadily for 35 years and they still say [middle finger emoji]."
The post continued: "@sagaftra really though @seanastin you're doing a bang up job. How about stop using actors to run things maybe?"
"They literally just know how to say words in front of a camera."
Bell ended the post with a peace sign emoji.
Sean Astin, famous for his roles in The Goonies, Stranger Things and Lord of the Rings, is the president of SAG-AFTRA.
Bell isn't the only actor who's found out he doesn't qualify for health insurance through SAG-AFTRA, as Ayptical's Jack Haven is also in the same boat.
"I’m in a bit of an emergency situation," Haven said in a YouTube video last month.
"I need to make $4,000 by the end of the month in order to qualify for SAG health insurance starting in January.
"If you or anyone you know can hire me on a SAG production and pay me $4,000, I will do pretty much any job."
They later managed to secure enough work after reaching out publicly.
Meanwhile, Princess Diaries star Heather Matarazzo, who played Lilly Moscovitz in the hit family-comedy, commented: "I am literally in the same boat right now. Lots of my fellow actors are.
"I remember a time when we didn’t have to earn a minimum to qualify for insurance. Glad to see that Jack has gotten an offer that will let them to qualify for 2027."
Tyla has reached out to the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, US News, TV And Film, Health
Rhiannon Ingle