Bite, bill, and bureaucratic cold win haiku on Halloween

by KFF Health News Staff

Illustrations by True Zenda

October 31, 2025

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<br /> <span class="byline">KFF and Ona Zenda Health News Staff</span><br /> <span class="byline photographer"><br /> <span>Illustrations by <a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/author/oona-tempest/" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>True Zenda</strong></a></span> </span></p> <p>Nearly 100 health care poems crept into our inboxes this Halloween. See the winning poems and poems in KFF Health News’ 7th Annual Halloween Haiku Contest, illustrated by Onna Zenda. </p> <p>The judges’ favorites were inspired by tick migration, Medicaid work requirements, and rising copayments. </p> <p>Follow KFF Health News’ social media accounts (<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/KFFHealthNews" rel="nofollow">X</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KFFHealthNews/" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a>and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KFFHealthNews/" rel="nofollow noopener">Facebook</a>) for more of our favorites. Enjoy!</p> <h2><strong>First place</strong></h2> <p>Checkups turn into panic. Coupons rise in value like enchanted flames. My wallet screams “Boo!”</p> <p><em>– Arnav Shah</em></p> <h2><strong>Second place</strong></h2> <p>There is no rest after death. Even ghosts have to work now to get the benefits.</p> <p><em>– Christine Hayashi</em></p> <h2><strong>Third place</strong></h2> <p>Searching for legs and teeth riding on blood puppets, all ticks and no cure!</p> <p>— <em>Carrie Morris</em></p> <p>While Halloween may be coming to a close, KFF Health News reports year-round. <strong>Send us your haiku</strong> At any time for inclusion in our morning briefing: <a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/contact-haiku/" rel="nofollow noopener">https://kffhealthnews.org/contact-haiku/</a>. </p> <h2><strong>2024 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners</strong></h2> <h2><strong>2023 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners</strong></h2> <h2><strong>2022 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners</strong></h2> <p>
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