Shannen Doherty Asks Fran Drescher to Fix SAG-AFTRA Healthcare After Union Abandons Her During Cancer Battle

Shannen Doherty is calling out SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher after losing health insurance amid her ongoing battle with cancer. The 90210 actor claimed that the union abandoned her because she wasn’t able to work due to health complications 

Doherty was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015 before going into remission in 2017. In 2020, three years later, she announced that her cancer returned; she is currently battling a Stage 4 diagnosis. 

Now, Doherty shared that she has been dropped from her SAG-AFTRA healthcare and is turning to the union’s president, Drescher, to address her complaints.

Last week, the actor shared a photo of herself in a hospital setting on Instagram, tagging Drescher. She wrote, “I’m curious for people like me who have worked since they were 10 and paid dues to @sagaftra how when we aren’t able to work for health reasons why our union abandons us.”

She continued, “I think we can do better for all our members and I think you’re [the] person to do it. Health insurance shouldn’t be based on annual income. It’s a lifetime contribution.” 

Doherty added, “For me and many others, we have paid a lifetime of dues to only be canceled because we don’t meet your current criteria. Not ok.”

I’ve been disappointed in @sagaftra ‘s flaccid response to a number of issues its failed to address on our behalf but in light of its dismissal of Shannen Doherty, whose career longevity exceeds most current movie stars, those issues remain just as outrageous but a distant second pic.twitter.com/Jjzuiie26a

— Craig Bierko (@MrCraigBierko) March 12, 2023

The actor has received support from many colleagues within the industry, including Busy Philipps, who wrote, “To many of my friends have gone through this- it makes no sense. @sagaftra must do better!!”

Doherty’s 90210 co-star Brian Austin Green endorsed her message and shared his own experience, claiming “SAG insurance dropped me after 9 months” during a “neurological breakdown” which required him to undergo physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. He told Doherty, “I will absolutely stand with you on this. You’re a beast, and I’m so lucky to call you a sister.” 

Last month, Drescher made a comment about insurance at the 2023 SAG Awards. While being interviewed by People, she told a story about Barbra Streisand calling her with questions about her health insurance.

“I got a call from Barbra Streisand, [asking] ‘Why aren’t I covered on [husband] Jim [Brolin]’s health care anymore?’” Drescher joked, adding “bless her heart.”

Over the past few months, Drescher has called on Hollywood to drop COVID-19 vaccine mandates and celebrated Disney loosening their COVID rules.

“As the president of SAG-AFTRA, it has been my obligation to follow the board’s decision to support the employer’s privilege to vaccine mandate productions as they so pleased,” Drescher told her followers in a video last November.