The press’s misnomer of the year, “free contraception,” is being compounded by a supposed “religious employer” exemption offered by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Monday in its “preventive services” regulation. HHS disregarded the conscience concerns of many Americans, bypassed significant requirements of Administrative law, and severely muddied the truth when it mandated – effective immediately – that health insurance plans (with few exceptions) provide coverage for the “full range of FDA approved contraceptives”… without a co-pay!

First, nothing in life is free. Removing co-pays from “contraceptives” does not mean these drugs and devices are cost-free. Rather, the payment for them is simply shifted. Under the HHS mandate, the payer is now everyone: conscientious objection or not...