Are There Exemptions for Being Denied Obamacare Due to SSD?

My son applied, twice for health care, the first time he heard nothing, the second time he was told he could not have it because he has applied for SSD. He is not yet collecting SSD, he is unemployed, been like that for couple years due to is injuries. So we have him with us.

Question is we take him as an exemption, but we can’t afford to purchase his health care, nor would it matter because he was turned down. So the question is, how do we answer the question about him having insurance in 2014? The answer would be no, but there is no where to explain he was denied. Does that mean a penalty will have to be paid for something he/we had no control over?