Rumor Doctor blog archive  Do veterans have a right to free
health care for life?      The law provides free medical care
for servicemembers on active duty and their families, Graves
said in an email.  Congressional Research Service, which
provides analysis for Congress, issued a 2003 report that found
veterans were not entitled to free medical care for life, even
though they may have been promised exactly that by their
recruiters.  Since 1956, veterans and their families can be
treated at military medical facilities "subject to the
availability of space and facilities and the capabilities of the
medical and dental staff," the report found.  "They have no
right to military health care and the military services have
total discretion in when and under what circumstances retirees
and their dependents will get care in military treatment
facilities," the report said.  Several veterans have taken their
claims to court, alleging that recruiters promised them free
medical care, but one court ruled that such promises