RALEIGH - North Carolina was one of the five biggest decliners in the country in regards to employees covered by health insurance.

A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that there were 216,000 fewer North Carolinians getting health insurance from their jobs in 2011 compared to 2000. Cathy Hemstead- with the foundation- says cost is the biggest driver,

"The average premium for individuals and families, the cost of that has approximately doubled between 2000 and 2011."

11.5 million fewer Americans were covered by health insurance in 2011 compared to 2000.