Heather Matarazzo May Lose Health Insurance
The 'Princess Diaries' star faces a looming deadline to find work or risk losing her health benefits, a situation shared by many fellow actors due to SAG-AFTRA's rising minimum earnings requirement
Heather Matarazzo, star of the 'Princess Diaries' films, may lose her health insurance if she doesn't find work soon. The actress is facing a similar situation to 'Atypical' actor Jack Haven, who recently shared their plight on social media, stating they needed to make $4,000 by the end of the month to qualify for SAG health insurance starting in January.
Matarazzo replied to a post about Haven's situation, writing that she is 'literally in the same boat right now' and that 'lots of my fellow actors are' in the same situation. She noted that she remembers a time when actors didn't have to earn a minimum to qualify for insurance.
SAG-AFTRA requires actors to earn a minimum wage to qualify for health benefits, with the minimum threshold expected to rise by approximately $900 each year until 2030. This year, members were required to earn $28,933 to qualify for health insurance.
Matarazzo's most recent project was the 2025 short film 'Paper Tiger', and she also had a recurring role in the OTT series 'Wednesday'. Despite her recent work, she still faces the risk of losing her health insurance if she doesn't find new work soon.
## Why it matters The situation faced by Matarazzo and Haven highlights the challenges faced by actors in the entertainment industry, where booking projects can be unpredictable and fluctuating. The rising minimum earnings requirement set by SAG-AFTRA can make it difficult for actors to qualify for health insurance, leaving them vulnerable to gaps in coverage.
Matarazzo's situation has drawn attention to the issue, with many fellow actors likely facing similar challenges. The fact that the minimum threshold is expected to continue rising until 2030 means that more actors may find themselves in the same situation in the future.
In contrast to Haven, who received many work offers after sharing their situation on social media, Matarazzo has not yet announced any new projects. The 'Princess Diaries' star will be hoping to find new work soon to avoid losing her health insurance, and her situation serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by actors in the entertainment industry.
