Special Delivery: Heart-Heavy Health Policy Valentines

February 14, 2023

(Eric Harkleroad/KHN illustration; Getty Images; Unsplash)

This year’s health policy valentine submissions were full of compassion for patients and concern over the nation’s health care system.

KHN’s readers and tweeters are among the most creative news consumers, sending in poetic valentines about physician assistants, the looming Medicaid unwinding, the Affordable Care Act, the upcoming end to the covid-19 public health emergency, and more.

Here are some favorites, featuring one lucky grand prize winner whose entry was turned into a cartoon by staff illustrator Oona Tempest.

A Valentine's day cartoon showing a woman smiling broadly while holding a mirror that reads "MEDICARE" — (Oona Tempest/KHN)

Roses are red
Candy is sweet
Adding #Dental to #Medicare
Makes it more complete!#HealthPolicyValentines @KHNews
— Jennifer Goldberg (@goldberg_ja) February 7, 2023

❤️

I scheduled a doctor to check out my heart.
But things went awry from the start.
The PA stepped in …
Did all the diagnosin’
And the doc signed off on my chart.

– Arthurine Rice

❤️

Regulations are read
ACA non-compliance is blue
Actuaries promote equity
Through the single risk pool#HealthPolicyValentines
— Greg Fann (Pro-compliance Health Actuary) (@greg_fann) February 5, 2023

❤️

Some states will be cruel,
some states will be kind
when the starting whistle blows
for the Medicaid unwind.@KHNews #HealthPolicyValentines
— xpostfactoid (@xpostfactoid) February 7, 2023

❤️

Love is in the air
but what does it mean without care
Without health
there’s no wealth
or hugs and kisses to share#HealthPolicyValentines @KHNews
— THE 3RD EYE AGENCY (@the3rdeyeagency) February 7, 2023

❤️

@KHNews Roses are red, money is green
The cost of healthcare is getting obscene. #HealthPolicyValentines
— Caitlin Andrews 📇 (@ActualCAndrews) February 7, 2023

❤️

Without you
My heart stops
Like a Public Health Emergency#HealthPolicyValentines .@KHNews
— Michelle Ko (@michelleko2d) February 7, 2023

❤️

This story was produced by KHN (Kaiser Health News), a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.

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