Hollywood Actors Losing Health Insurance Make Desperate Public Pleas

Breitbart ^ | 9/26/2026 | Warner Todd Hudson

[T.B. Yoits]

Several Hollywood actors, including Princess Diaries star Heather Matarazzo, are trying to raise awareness about new actor’s union requirements that could cause many performers to lose their healthcare benefits.

Matarazzo, whose last role was in the 2025 short film Paper Tiger, told fans on her social media that if she does not get a paying acting role soon, the new union rules will cause her to lose her health insurance, according to Variety.

She made her comment in reply to a similar post made by actor Jack Haven, who told fans that he is $4,000 short of reaching the annual $28,933 earning requirement to retain his SAG-AFTRA health insurance plan.

The most recent SAG-AFTRA union contract is not static at the $28,933 income level, either. According to the agreement, actors will find the annual earning total rise by $900 a year all the way to 2030, meaning that by then actors will have to earn $32,533 every year thereafter before being qualified to enroll in the union’s healthcare plan.

Union scale wages for speaking roles are currently as low as $256 a day for low-budget productions and $1,283 per day for productions carrying a $2 million budget or more.

The Welcome to the Dollhouse star echoed Haven’s distress, telling her fans, “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.”

The union began a series of steps several years ago to change the plan “to address financial deficits facing the plan.”

But, according to Variety, that means about 90 percent of actors are no longer covered under the union’s healthcare plans.

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TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: california; health; heathermatarazzo; hollywood; insurance; learntocode; obamacare

[scrabblehack]

Hmmm...it looks like the low end of the pay scale is very low and you’d need quite a few gigs per year to earn enough to get health insurance.

If Matarazzo or Haven ever did make millions then yes they should have salted some away. If their pay has always been low then they should consider another line of work.

[dfwgator]

I’m not expecting to see anything, because I don’t watch any crap Hollywood puts out these days.

[Carriage Hill]

✔

[paulcissa]

Also expect newer actors to get frozen out because they can't afford working part time for low wages when competing against seasoned actors who'll work for the same scale

I know a few people that work the production lots in LA. This has been happening for a while. Netflix and other prod houses became safe refuge for many breaking into the business.

[jerod]

That part time job at the local McDonald's is looking better every day... Only problem... You'll need to actually work and not stand around looking stupid, like you usually do when you work as an 'actor'.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Who makes money in the unions? The union higher-ups. The National Executive Director rakes in upwards of $500K a year,

Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy cannot be avoided.

[T.B. Yoits]

Hollywood was in trouble once the Feds cracked down on money laundering via movie productions.

[TBP]

And they all voted for this.

[napscoordinator]

There are definitely some hellholes that’s for sure. I’m glad you have other areas that you can get healthcare.

[vivenne]

So where are Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Mark Ruffalo, et al??? Such compassionate people who care about the little guy, unlike Orange Man Bad who doesn’t care about the people???? Where are they??? Are they offering to help pay for their industy mates insurance??? Ya, I didn’t think so.

[missthethunder]

OK, I’m confused.
What does she expect us to do as the public?
Does she want us to call the union and
tell them they’re being mean to her?

[NonValueAdded]

But, according to Variety, that means about 90 percent of actors are no longer covered under the union’s healthcare plans.

Obviously, the other 10% "fat cats" are not paying their fair share.

[lastchance]

You did not read the article. Most are working but they don’t make enough under the new SAG rules to qualify for health care coverage. Notice who is protected, those actors and actresses who make millions on a picture.

[lastchance]

That is probably what the union is hoping will happen. Push these people off of the private plan and onto Obamacare.

[PeterPrinciple]

Obviously, the other 10% “fat cats” are not paying their fair share.

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maybe, but are the 0ther 90 percent paying their share? or are they being subsidized?

[Track9]

They need to play doctor, then they wont need to pay so much.

[Schatze]

Can’t they sign up for Obamacare? They supportede it after all.

Yes, they did. If they're now looking for sympathy, it's in the dictionary between suicide and syphilis.

[Vermont Lt]

So the union is telling members that they have to work to get benefits?

Oh the humanity!

[MayflowerMadam]

Hey, guys. How about ... GET A JOB!

[SteelPSUGOP]

My disabled son made 20k last year as a dishwasher. He will make more this year due to his wages being increased from 11 to 12 an hour.

This pushes him into having to pay for his Obamacare plan m. He is disabled, yet he still has to pay.

Boo hoo Hollywood union holes. Welcome me to the real economy.