Health Insurance Selected as 2026-2027 National Policy Debate Topic
The National Federation of State High School Associations has chosen national health insurance as the debate topic for high schools nationwide. With a decisive 23-8 margin, it beat out "Nuclear Weapons" to become the focus of the 2026-27 academic year.
Debaters will tackle this resolution: "The United States federal government should establish national health insurance in the United States."
The topic selection process brought together representatives from 31 state associations along with four national organizations—the National Speech and Debate Association, National Catholic Forensic League, National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, and National Debate Coaches Association. After meeting this past summer, delegates compiled five possible topics: Health Insurance, Nuclear Weapons, Carbon Pricing, Corporate Control, and Energy.
What made health insurance rise to the top? According to Chris Paulson, NFHS director of performing arts and sports, the answer is relevance. "Few issues are as timely or directly connected to the lives of students and their families as access to health care and insurance coverage," he noted. “This topic invites high school debaters to examine complex domestic policy questions and engage in thoughtful analysis of a system that affects nearly every American. Through this debate, students will strengthen their research, advocacy and critical-thinking skills while exploring one of the most relevant public policy issues in our nation today.”
Final Voting Results:
23 HEALTH INSURANCE
Resolved: The United States federal government should establish national health insurance in the United States.
8 NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce the size and/or restrict the roles of its nuclear weapons arsenal.
Do you have expertise to share? Your knowledge will be incredibly valuable as our students prepare for this topic. We’re going to be scheduling topic lectures for our students starting this summer and we welcome your perspectives and insights as part of the series.
