Ghosts, Ghouls, and Ghastly Drug Prices in Winning Halloween Haikus

By Evan Vega On Oct 31, 2024

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October 31, 2024

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</p> <p>If you dare, feast your eyes on this year’s winners of KFF Health News’ sixth annual Halloween Haiku contest. We received more than four dozen spooky submissions but only a few bubbled to the top of the cauldron. Here’s the winner and the top runners-up, illustrated by Oona Zenda. The judges’ favorites were inspired by blood shortages, high health care costs, and the eye-gouging price of prescription drugs. Keep an eye on KFF Health News’ social media accounts (<a href="https://twitter.com/KFFHealthNews">X</a>; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KFFHealthNews/">Instagram</a>; and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KFFHealthNews/">Facebook</a>) for more of our favorites. Enjoy!</p> <h2><strong>1st Place</strong></h2> <p>Vampires don’t scare me. </p> <p>Empty blood shelves, now that’s fear. </p> <p>Roll up, save a life.</p> <p><em>— Crystal Decker </em></p> <h2><strong>2nd Place</strong></h2> <p>What spooks me the most </p> <p>Is not a ghoul or a ghost </p> <p>But steep health care bills.</p> <p><em>— Sasha Zitter </em></p> <h2><strong>3rd Place</strong></h2> <p>No, not eye-gouging. </p> <p>My costume is scarier: </p> <p>Pharma price-gouging.</p> <p><em>— Siri Palreddy</em></p> <p>While Halloween may be coming to an end, KFF Health News reporting continues year-round. <strong>Send us your haikus</strong> at any time for possible inclusion in our Morning Briefing: <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/contact-haiku/">https://kffhealthnews.org/contact-haiku/</a>. </p> <h2><strong>2023 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners</strong></h2> <h2><strong>2022 Halloween Haiku Contest Winners</strong></h2> <p>