Drake Bell criticized SAG-AFTRA’s health insurance eligibility rules this week after the union denied him coverage because his earnings fell thousands of dollars short of the required minimum. The Drake & Josh alum posted his frustration on his Instagram Story on Tuesday, sharing a screenshot from the SAG-AFTRA health plan website stating he did not qualify for coverage. For an actor who worked in the industry for decades, the denial highlights how strict earnings thresholds can leave established performers without health benefits.
The message Bell shared read in part, “You do not qualify for Health Plan coverage at this time. Your reported covered earnings from July 2025-June 2026 did not meet minimum eligibility requirements, or you did not qualify other eligibility rules.”
The Earnings Shortfall That Triggered The Denial
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bell earned $17,480.53 in covered wages between July 2025 and June 2026. SAG-AFTRA requires members to earn a minimum of $28,090 during that period to qualify for its health plan as of 2026, leaving Bell short by $11,452.47.
Bell did not hold back in his response. “Do not become an actor. Do not join SAG. You can work for 35 years and they still say [middle finger emoji],” he wrote on his Instagram Story, according to the outlet.
He also directed criticism at SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin by name. “@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 wrote, tagging Astin directly.
What The Eligibility Rules Mean For Working Performers
SAG-AFTRA’s health plan eligibility hinges on a set earnings threshold within a 12-month qualifying period, and falling below that line, even by a narrow margin, results in a denial regardless of how long a performer has worked in the industry. For an actor with Bell’s level of name recognition from decades of television and voice work, the gap highlights how inconsistent income across years can leave even established performers without coverage.
Bell is not alone in raising this issue publicly. The Hollywood Reporter noted that other actors, including Jack Haven of Atypical and Heather Matarazzo of The Princess Diaries, have also spoken out about difficulty obtaining health insurance through the union.
Background On Bell’s Career And Recent Activity
Bell rose to fame in the early 2000s on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, the latter alongside Josh Peck, and he has continued doing voice work throughout his career. More recently, he has shifted his focus to music, releasing his album Non-Stop Flight in 2024 and touring behind it.
Bell canceled the final dates of that tour, originally scheduled for the end of July and early August 2026, citing personal reasons that prevented him from performing.
What’s Next
SAG-AFTRA had not issued a public response to Bell’s comments as of the report. His earnings shortfall and public criticism add to an ongoing conversation among performers about how the union’s health plan thresholds affect actors whose income fluctuates year to year.
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