Why doesn't the free edition cover student loan interest when is has in the years past?

When the new Form 1040 was released for the tax year 2018, the student loan interest was moved to Schedule 1 which was a brand new form last year.  TurboTax Free Edition only includes items reported on Form 1040.  If you have any items on any one of the 3 Schedules, an upgrade to Deluxe is required.  

TurboTax Free Edition (and TurboTax Live Basic) are intended for taxpayers with very simple returns that can fit on the new 1040 form without any schedules.  If we detect that your tax situation requires expanded coverage, like deductions for owning a home or self-employment income, we'll prompt you to upgrade to a version that supports the forms you need so we can maximize your tax deductions and ensure you file an accurate return.

Depending on what your tax situation was last year, you might need to use new tax forms to claim the same deductions, credits, or forms of income. Some of the situations that are now in TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Live Deluxe, instead of in Free Edition, include:

• Student loan interest deduction
• Retirement savings contribution credit for 401(k) and IRA contributions
• Education credits
• Child dependent care credit

Go here for more info on which forms are included in TurboTax Free Edition.