The Cabinet has agreed to a proposal to increase medical cards for people who are terminally ill.
Currently people who are certified as having 12 months or less to live are eligible for a medical card.
This currently covers around 1,800 people.
The proposal brought to Cabinet by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly recommended increasing the period people are certified as regards life expectancy to 24 months.
Health officials say when implemented, this will likely double the number of people covered.
Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane has said the decision is "very welcome news".
In a statement, the Waterford TD said it is a "very important step in the right direction, brought about by the tireless campaigning of advocates such as John Wall and the Irish Cancer Society."
The Irish Cancer Society has said the move "is a welcome step in the right direction to help ease the financial burden for many cancer patients".
"A diagnosis of terminal cancer is a devastating one for anybody to hear and for those patients the absolute last thing on their mind should be worries about medication costs, GP fees and inpatient charges at hospitals," Director of Advocacy, Rachel Morrogh said.
