Cover Oregon, Oracle enter transition agreement

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s troubled health insurance exchange said Monday it will pay its main technology contractor much of the money it’s been withholding in payments, in exchange for Oracle’s promise to continue working with the state during a transition period.

Meanwhile, Gov. John Kitzhaber expressed pessimism about the prospects for Cover Oregon and Oracle finishing the website before the end of March, when nearly all Americans are required to have insurance under the federal health care law.