A Bite, a Bill, and a Bureaucratic Chill in Winning Halloween Haikus

By KFF Health News Staff Illustrations by Oona Zenda October 31, 2025

Article HTML <br /> <span class="byline">KFF Health News Staff and Oona Zenda</span><br /> <span class="byline photographer"><br /> <span>Illustrations by <a rel="noopener follow external" target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/author/oona-tempest/" data-wpel-link="external"><strong>Oona Zenda</strong></a></span> </span></p> <p>Nearly 100 health care-themed haikus crept into our inbox this Halloween. See the winning poems and top runners-up from KFF Health News’ seventh annual Halloween haiku contest, illustrated by Oona Zenda. </p> <p>The judges’ favorites were inspired by tick migration, Medicaid work requirements, and rising copays. </p> <p>Follow KFF Health News’ social media accounts