Cheyenne Jackson’s Journey with SAG-AFTRA Health Insurance
Cheyenne Jackson has appeared in over 40 TV shows, including well-known titles like “Imperfect Women,” “American Horror Story,” “Call Me Kat,” “Glee,” and “30 Rock,” as well as a variety of films.
However, he faced a challenging situation last year when he nearly lost his SAG-AFTRA health insurance due to not meeting the necessary earnings threshold of around $28,000. This insurance covers not only him but also his husband, Jason, and their two children.
“I was just one gig away from securing my insurance,” Jackson shared. “We really depend on the SAG insurance; it’s quite valuable.”
In a moment of need, he reached out to his friend Kathy Bates, who is famously known for her role in “Matlock.” He needed to earn an additional $6,000.
“I called her and explained, ‘I’m in a tight spot, and I could use your support. Is there a role for me on ‘Matlock’?’” he reminisced. “She said she would check on it.”
Less than five minutes later, Bates got back to him. “She told me, ‘I have good news and bad news. The good news is, I’ve got you a part on ‘Matlock.’ The bad news is, you’ll have five lines and no character name,’” Jackson recalled. “I replied, ‘I’m in! No ego here.’ I portrayed a nameless detective. I examined a crime scene and said, ‘Hey, Sergeant, we’ve got some blood over here.’”
Now, Jackson is giving back by launching the “One Job Away” initiative. Just recently started, he is using his Instagram to showcase headshots and bios of actors on the brink of losing their SAG-AFTRA health insurance.
With a following of 741,000 on Instagram, Jackson shared that he received “hundreds” of submissions within the first 24 hours. “The broader conversation is about how residuals and the SAG system functions,” he observed. “I do alright with residuals, but much of it doesn’t contribute to our SAG dues, which means every year feels like starting from scratch.”
Jackson pointed out, “An actor might make $500,000 one year, but if they don’t earn much the next, that prior amount doesn’t help with the health insurance minimum for the following year.”
He added, “Actors who’ve had significant roles for years find themselves hunting for even a small guest spot just to maintain their insurance, especially with the growing scarcity of jobs and declining pay.”
Among the headshots Jackson has featured is Juston Graber, who is just $198.48 away from qualifying for SAG-AFTRA insurance. Miho Saito only needs $402 more. Others highlighted include Independent Spirit Award nominee Trace Lysette, original “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” star Jai Rodriguez, and Daniel Franzese known for “Mean Girls.”
Jamie Lee Curtis has shown her support by resharing some of Jackson’s “One Job Away” posts to her 6.7 million Instagram followers.
Jackson is not placing blame on SAG-AFTRA leadership. “I’m not looking to assign fault,” he remarked. “What I aim to do is spark a broader conversation, because it’s clear the current system isn’t functioning properly.”
In a more critical tone, “Drake & Josh” actor Drake Bell recently criticized the union after finding he didn’t qualify for its insurance.
On October 13, Bell shared a screenshot of the SAG-AFTRA health plan website that indicated, “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 under other eligibility rules.”
The website stated that Bell had earned $17,480.53 but still needed $11,452.47 to meet the required $28,933 for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan.
He commented on the screenshot, “Do not become an actor. Do not join SAG. You can put in 35 years of work, and they still tell you [middle finger emoji].”
Additionally, in September, “Atypical” actor Jack Haven and “Princess Diaries” star Heather Matarazzo both expressed concerns that they would not qualify for health insurance without securing more work soon.
