COBRA has been around for more than 35 years.
If you lost your job or your employer stopped providing health insurance or goes out of business, by law you are allowed to enroll in the program which is a continuation of your present insurance.
If you change employers or don’t have insurance at birth, I would agree with you.
But in the discussed situation, coverage continuance was available. It has been available for more than 35 years. At one time, it was for a maximum of 18 months. Then changed to a longer/unlimited time based on legal circumstances.
Bottom line: kid had coverage available.
Not for pre-existing conditions. At that time, insurance companies did not have to cover those conditions. I know. I was in that situation with my son.