Yes but the fact they paid it means they’re not too smart. All kinds of ways to get out of it. The 8% exemption takes most people out. Forget to pay an electric bill and get a shut off notice? Bam! Exemption.
One of the first things President Trump did when he was inaugurated was issue an order to the IRS to have them accept any tax return that did not have the required Form 1095A included with it.
So if you paid a penalty for 2016, it's only because you told the IRS that you had no coverage for all or part of the year. If you said nothing, you would have paid no penalty.