Yes, the coverage was private before January 1. After, her problems came with the law, not the insurance company. She was seeking a subsidy from the government, and the 'government' was telling her that the child did not qualify.
OK. But if they are debt free, own their own home and presumably make decent money with both of them being employed full time, I wouldn’t think they would qualify for the subsidy and I don’t know why they would think they would be entitled to one.
And again this doesn’t answer the question of whether either or both of their employers offer group health care insurance and why they didn’t mention or presumably bother look into that option.