Goldberg, who
took over the troubled Cover Oregon exchange last week, said the
state's manual processing system hasn't worked through an estimated 65,000 applications as quickly as officials first estimated.
"We thought we'd be further along than we are now," Goldberg said.
The state began processing applications by hand after officials said Nov. 1 the exchange's website would be unable to enroll individuals online. At the time, Kitzhaber pledged that Oregonians who needed insurance would still be able to enroll by Jan. 1.
"We have an army of people who are -- as we speak -- processing applications,"
Kitzhaber said on Nov. 1. "And anyone who does get in by Dec. 15 will have their coverage start Jan. 1."