SAG-AFTRA Fires Back After Lawsuit From Former Union President

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — The Screen Actors Guild responded Monday to a recent lawsuit claiming their new health plan was discriminatory based on age. The lawsuit, filed by former SAG president Ed Asner along with other union members, claims the group is removing health coverage for almost 12,000 members, including 8,200 seniors.

The new plan requires members under 65, and those over 65 who are not receiving a pension, to earn at least $25,950 per year or work at least 100 days. For those over 65 who are taking a pension, residual earnings will no longer count toward that requirement.

"The trustees blame the COVID-19 pandemic for the suddenly urgent need to impose the Benefit cuts and drop thousands of participants from SAG-AFTRA health coverage," the lawsuit reads. "This blame ignores the facts and readily available measures that could have addressed such a one-time event without dramatically ending SAG-AFTRA health coverage for primarily older participants."

Current SAG President Gabrielle Carteris responded to the lawsuit after saying the union had become "increasingly concerned about the flood of misleading information being spread by certain websites and social media accounts about our health plan."

"Like many scams that target the elderly, the misinformation being spread is endangering our most vulnerable members," she said. "By directing plan participants to unofficial websites rather than the plan's official, vetted and accurate website, they are confusing people who need to connect with the plan to ensure they have appropriately transitioned to their new coverage."

City News Service contributed to this report.