Kristina Klebe is an actor who’s been able to find some voiceover work, at a time when most tv and film production has been halted because of the pandemic.
"I had actually booked a video game in January, then I booked another video game, so I've been working, which is crazy, I know, and I feel so so lucky," she told us.
But when her union SAG-AFTRA announced changes to the health insurance plan this week, she was devastated.
Starting January 1, union members will have to earn $26,000 a year to be eligible for coverage, instead of $18,000 a year.
Like many actors, Klebe struggles every year to meet the coverage threshold. She says with the change, she will lose her insurance.
"I also have a pre-existing condition. I'm BRCA-2 positive, which is the breast cancer gene, so I have to get MRIs and mammograms and all kinds of things, and I can't afford to change my doctors and lose my health insurance," she said.
In a statement, the union says, “The Trustees of the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan have taken a difficult but necessary action to address financial deficits facing the plan. The impact of healthcare costs that are continuing to skyrocket has been exacerbated by a global pandemic that has brought our industry to a standstill and dramatically diminished contributions to the Health Plan. In order to continue to provide high-quality benefits to the greatest number of participants, we must implement changes now in order to preserve the long-term sustainability of the Health Plan. “
Klebe took her concerns to social media, and got many comments of support, including from actor Shaan Sharma, a board member of the union's LA Local.
Sharma is set to lose his insurance September 1. He says even the current benchmarks have been impossible to meet during the slowdown.
"During COVID, they are reducing the number of day players and guest co-stars and even background performers on high-budget shows to protect the main series cast. It is going to be harder than ever for somebody to be able to earn that," he said.
Still, there are no easy answers. With so many people out of work and not able to pay premiums, industry experts say health care plans must make changes to stay afloat.