Their Insurance Didn’t Want to Cover This Family – Then the Audience Stepped In

August 14, 2017

Writer

Last week, Russell Cruzan II and Michelle Budnik-Nap joined Glenn on radio Monday to share an update on their son Russell Cruzan, who suffers from the same debilitating genetic condition that Charlie Gard had.

According to the Michigan couple, their insurance company didn’t want to cover the baby’s appointment with a mitochondrial specialist in Boston because Priority Health thought a nearby geneticist was sufficient for Russell’s care. Known as “Bubby,” the baby has mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, a rare degenerative genetic condition that affects organs and muscles. While there is no known medical cure, medical specialists have been able to improve quality of life for children with the condition.

The insurance company’s Facebook page blew up with lots of comments following the couple’s interview on radio Thursday. Dad Russell Cruzan had the latest update on Monday morning: Priority Health’s medical director is now handling the case, and the family is moving forward with the company to work out covering the baby’s initial appointment with a specialist.

The family should have an answer for their case by Wednesday, he said.

GLENN: Hmm.

I believe it was on Friday, we had Russell Cruzan on. His son is Bubby. Bubby is a newborn, less than a year old, who has been diagnosed with the same disease that -- oh, shoot, now I've forgotten his name.

STU: Charlie Gard.

GLENN: Charlie Gard has had in England. When we first had him on, we just talked about how the family is and everything is going on. Insurance was fine.

Last week, we found out that their insurance company is not going to cover a -- a doctor's appointment or allow them to go out of state because, "You've got a geneticist." Well, no.

The geneticist in the state says, "I'm not an expert in this. There's one guy that is an expert. And the baby needs to see an expert." This isn't like -- this can't be solved in -- at a doc in the box. We need a specialist on this.

So we found out that they were trying to get an appointment. By the end of the day, I think the fundraiser that we started in the morning was up to $40,000. And -- and we were also looking for information about the insurance company on what the insurance company was going to do, whether they would reconsider.

I got this note: Glenn, Thursday after we got off the phone, Priority Health called me and said that it was indeed denied. Their case. But I needed to file an appeal as fast as possible. He then said that their Facebook was blowing up with all kinds of comments.

I tried to file the appeal, but the email server was down, perhaps from all of the emails and comments from your awesome supporters. They then called me this morning, I think this was Friday and said: Don't worry about the appeal right now. The medical director is now handling our case and is going to talk to geneticist. And they're trying to see if they can get this approval done for us. Thanks so much for all of the help from your listeners. We'd be lost without you guys.

Russell, welcome to the program.

RUSSELL: Hey. How's it going?

GLENN: Good. What a rollercoaster this is.

RUSSELL: Yes, it is.

GLENN: Okay. So tell us what has happened.

So I really want to provide a free commercial for Priority Health, you know, and let people call in, like you, who have had, you know, problems where they've solved it. Are they going to solve this problem, do you think?

RUSSELL: I'm really hoping they do. It sounds like, after Thursday, it sounds like they started backpedaling a lot.

GLENN: Okay.

RUSSELL: They're like -- I mean, all the negativity they were getting and everything. They did tell me, come Wednesday, they'd have an answer for me. And they did talk to our geneticist and the one we're trying to go see.

GLENN: Great.

Well, here's what we would like to do: And you can -- you can offer this. You know, when they decide that they are going to, you know, show the -- you know, cover Bubby and -- and -- and make sure that he can go to a geneticist and the insurance company recognizes, of course, that, you know, they don't know more than the actual experts in the field, that they're there to cover and write checks, not to make diagnosis or health care calls. I'd love to have their representative on to be able to give them the accolades and point out that this is an insurance company that, you know, has a heart and is doing that.

And if they choose not to cover -- you know, they said by Wednesday, let's stay in touch. When they come back, if they choose not to cover, I'd also like to give them free advertising. And we'll pick a day. And I just want to hear from just those people who have filed, you know, for things and then had Priority -- what is it? Priority Health?

RUSSELL: Correct.

GLENN: Yeah, that had Priority Health turned them down, but then correct -- I'm sure -- I'm sure there's tons of stories where they filed and everything went fine. It was all corrected.

So whatever your story is with Priority Health, I'm going to give you an opportunity to have a nationwide audience. And we'll dedicate the entire show to Priority Health, to show -- we'll have the listeners and people who actually have Priority Health explain what a wonderful health care company and provider this provider is.

Everything else good, Russell?

RUSSELL: Yeah, everything else is going great.

GLENN: Good. Do you have the appointment set?

RUSSELL: Yes, we do. August 24th. They have agreed to let us pay out of pocket, which will be easily done now with all the support that we got from everybody after that show.

GLENN: What is it up to now? Do you know?

RUSSELL: Almost $57,000.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: Fifty-seven thousands. Well, that's good.

All right. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. And we'll -- you just keep in touch with me. And let's make sure that one way or another, everyone knows exactly how great Priority Health is.

RUSSELL: Sounds good. Thank you very much.

GLENN: You're welcome. Thank you.

If we just used our power for good, as opposed to evil.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: What we could accomplish.

JEFFY: That's what I tell myself, looking here at PriorityHealth.com.

GLENN: Oh, you know what, you can write to them on their Facebook page. They love it.

STU: Well, you're optimistic though on the way they're going to handle this. Right?

GLENN: I am. I am.

PAT: Well, who wouldn't be? I mean, surely there can't be too many stories from Priority Health customers where things have gone bad, right?

JEFFY: No.

PAT: There can't be -- I mean, nobody is perfect. Maybe there's one or two. But I'm sure if we opened up the phones on Thursday to find out more, you know, we would only hear a couple of stories.

GLENN: Right.

STU: We probably won't.

JEFFY: If any.

PAT: If any, yeah.

GLENN: If any. They're probably a great company.

PAT: Maybe this is the only snafu.

GLENN: Right. But that's why I want to open it up. I want to hear from all those people that have said -- that will tell us, "Hey, I had this with Priority Health, and everything was covered. And we got it covered in time. And there was no problems. And they wrote the check."

JEFFY: Right.

GLENN: "And they're just the greatest company of all the time."

PAT: That's exactly what I expect to hear.

GLENN: That's exactly what I expect to hear too. So we'll open that up for the people who actually pay the probably very low premium and very low deductible as well, for Priority Health. Anxious to advertise for them.

STU: And to be clear, that's the only time -- we would only do that if we had an indication or a concern that this was of more frequent occurrence. If they were able to handle this claim the way that they're supposed to, I mean, there's no reason --

PAT: We would be happy to talk about that too. Right.

GLENN: I would be happy to have the CEO on.

STU: And he could tell us about --

PAT: And thank them.

GLENN: And tell us -- and thank them. Sincerely thank them for taking a look at it.

PAT: Yeah. Because obviously mistakes happen.

GLENN: Right.

STU: That's why they have an appeals process.

GLENN: Exactly right. Exactly right. Wish that it didn't take a huge radio show to --

PAT: Either way, it should be a fun day for them on Thursday.

GLENN: Oh, it's going to be a fun day for them.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: Yeah. One day perhaps -- one way perhaps a little more fun than the other.

PAT: Perhaps.

GLENN: Perhaps.

JEFFY: Eh.

GLENN: Huh?

JEFFY: If you say so.

GLENN: Okay. All right.

What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

America’s moral erosion: How we were conditioned to accept the unthinkable

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stand with Voddie Baucham’s family in this time of loss

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

From isolation to connection: Overcoming loneliness

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.