Drake Bell says SAG-AFTRA denied him health cover over earnings shortfall

Drake Bell says he does not qualify for health cover through his actors' union after falling short on earnings.

The actor, known for Drake & Josh, shared a screenshot from the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan website on his Instagram Story on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, according to Variety. The page said he does "not qualify for Health Plan coverage at this time."

SAG-AFTRA is the US labour union for screen performers and broadcast workers. Its health plan sits apart from union membership. Performers must meet work or earnings thresholds to stay covered.

Bell's screenshot put his reported covered earnings for July 2025 to June 2026 at $17,480.53. That period did not meet the minimum eligibility requirement. The plan requires $28,933 in earnings to qualify.

The gap was spelled out on the page. It said he needed $11,452.47 more to qualify for coverage.

Bell added his own message over the image. "Do not become an actor. Do not join SAG," he wrote. He added that a person can work for 35 years and still be denied by SAG.

He also tagged the union and its president in the post. That president is Sean Astin, the actor known for The Lord of the Rings and The Goonies.

Losing access in this way is built into the system. Participants in the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan must qualify for coverage and can sometimes lose eligibility, according to SAG-AFTRA. The plan offers earnings-based coverage and days-based coverage.

All covered earnings under any SAG and AFTRA union contracts count towards eligibility. That rule means work across film, television, commercials and other union jobs is added together, rather than judged contract by contract.