Listen now (24 mins) | Listen Now The homeless of course suffer substantial health problems. The CDC estimates nearly half have one or more chronic health condition (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer), two in five have a mental health diagnosis/es, one-fourth suffer substance abuse, one-third are alcohol addicted. One 2005 study showed shocking mortality rates, the median age of death was 45. Over half do not have health insurance - though homeless adults will become eligible in 2014 for Medicaid coverage in states that agree to expand their Medicaid program under the ACA (about half the states) to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($15,200).