SAG-AFTRA Health Plan
Comprehensive health insurance for qualifying SAG-AFTRA members based on annual earnings
Overview
The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan provides medical, dental, vision, and mental health coverage to union members who meet minimum earnings thresholds from covered employment. It is one of the most comprehensive health plans available to performing artists in the United States.
Eligibility is determined by your earnings from SAG-AFTRA-covered work during a base earnings period. Once qualified, the plan covers a wide range of services including hospitalization, prescription drugs, preventive care, and behavioral health treatment.
How It Works
The plan is administered independently from the union itself and has its own board of trustees. It offers multiple tiers of coverage depending on your earnings level, with higher earners qualifying for more comprehensive benefits.
There is no separate premium to pay if you meet the earnings threshold; coverage is funded by employer contributions on your behalf. The minimum earnings requirement changes periodically, so check the plan's website for current thresholds.
Who Uses It
Qualifying for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan is a significant career milestone and one of the most tangible benefits of union membership. If you are close to the earnings threshold, every additional booking can make the difference in securing your health coverage. The plan also offers COBRA continuation coverage for members who fall below the earnings threshold in subsequent years, providing a bridge during slower periods. Understanding the plan's base earnings periods and enrollment windows is essential for strategic career planning as a working union actor.
Pricing & Plans
The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan does not charge premiums to qualifying members; instead, coverage is funded entirely by employer contributions made on your behalf when you work under SAG-AFTRA contracts. The minimum earnings threshold for Plan I, the most comprehensive tier, has historically been set around $26,470 in covered earnings during the base earnings period, though this figure is reviewed and adjusted periodically by the plan's trustees. Plan II, which offers a more limited benefits package, has a lower earnings threshold of approximately $18,040, providing a stepping stone for members working toward full eligibility. If you lose eligibility, COBRA continuation coverage is available but can be expensive, typically costing $700 to $1,200 per month depending on the coverage tier. Compared to purchasing individual health insurance on the ACA marketplace, the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan typically offers more comprehensive coverage, lower deductibles, and better provider networks at effectively zero premium cost to the member. The plan's value, when measured against equivalent marketplace coverage, represents thousands of dollars in annual savings for qualifying members.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The plan's zero-premium model for qualifying members is its most significant advantage, providing comprehensive health coverage without the monthly insurance payments that burden most self-employed individuals. The benefits package is genuinely comprehensive, covering medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription drugs with relatively low copays and deductibles compared to marketplace plans. The provider network is extensive, particularly in entertainment industry hubs like Los Angeles and New York, where the plan has established relationships with physicians who understand performers' health needs. Mental health coverage includes therapy and psychiatric services, which is crucial for actors dealing with the emotional demands of the profession. The plan's administration is separate from the union itself, ensuring that health coverage decisions are made by healthcare professionals rather than union politics. The existence of two eligibility tiers means that actors who are building their careers have a realistic intermediate goal to work toward before reaching the top tier.
What Could Be Better
The earnings threshold creates a binary eligibility cliff where missing the minimum by even a few dollars means losing an entire year of health coverage, which can be devastating for actors who work consistently but not quite at the required level. The base earnings period system means there is a significant lag between when you earn the money and when coverage takes effect, creating gaps that can leave members uninsured during transitional periods. Earnings from non-union work, even in entertainment, do not count toward the threshold, which penalizes actors who mix union and non-union employment. The plan's comprehensive benefits are only valuable while you qualify, and the stress of maintaining eligibility year after year adds a layer of anxiety to an already uncertain career. COBRA continuation costs are prohibitively expensive for many actors who have just fallen below the earnings threshold, meaning they often cannot afford to maintain the coverage they previously had. The plan does not cover dependents automatically at all tiers, and family coverage adds complexity to an already confusing eligibility structure.
Our Recommendation
We recommend that every SAG-AFTRA member make qualifying for the Health Plan a primary career goal, as it represents one of the most valuable financial benefits of union membership. It is especially important for actors who do not have health coverage through a spouse, partner, or day job, as the cost of equivalent marketplace insurance can easily exceed $500 per month. If you are close to the earnings threshold, actively pursue additional union work in the months before your base earnings period closes, as even a single commercial booking can push you over the line. Actors who consistently fall short of the threshold should honestly assess whether supplementing with ACA marketplace insurance is more reliable than hoping to qualify each year. Members with families should pay particular attention to the dependent coverage rules, as family health insurance through the marketplace can be significantly more expensive than what the plan offers. We strongly suggest consulting the plan's eligibility counselors directly, as they can walk you through your specific earnings situation and help you strategize for future qualification.
Pro Tips
Track your covered earnings throughout the year using your SAG-AFTRA online portal so you always know exactly where you stand relative to the qualification threshold. Understand which base earnings period applies to your enrollment and work backward to plan your audition and booking strategy accordingly. If you are within a few thousand dollars of the threshold late in your earnings period, consider actively pursuing commercial work, which tends to generate higher residual income that counts toward qualification. Keep detailed records of all your SAG-AFTRA employment and payments, as discrepancies between your records and employer contributions do occur and can be corrected if caught early. Talk to the plan's member services representatives before making major decisions like COBRA enrollment or switching to marketplace insurance, as they can explain options you may not be aware of. If you lose eligibility, apply immediately for coverage through your state's ACA marketplace during the special enrollment period triggered by loss of employer-sponsored coverage, so you do not go uninsured.