Robin Smith worked 42 years in television news, notably as the longtime noon anchor for KMOV Channel 4.

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One benefit of longevity, she said, was the promise that the health plan of SAG-AFTRA, the American union for broadcasters and film and television actors, would cover her health insurance in retirement.

But after paying dues for decades, Smith, now 66, said the union health plan announced this summer it would drop coverage for retirees Jan. 1, disallowing the use of residuals income to qualify for new income thresholds. Instead, Smith said she was, in effect, directed to the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Though SAG-AFTRA offered reduced Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA) premiums for a period, Smith said that and the ACA plans would be inferior to her current insurance, for which she pays just $30 or $40 a month. The new plan is also