# Alignment Healthcare, Inc.

> Alpha governed public record. Unknown, unavailable, and unpublished values are never inferred as zero.

## Record

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Representation | alpha-profile-markdown-v4 |
| Protocol | Alpha Governance Facts Protocol 0.1 |
| Schema | alpha.governance.entity.public.v1 |
| Record version | public-1:d751713988987e9331980363e24189ce:ro-d751713988987e9331980363e24189ce |
| Governance record representation | alpha-governance-record-v2 |
| Canonical entity | alpha:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be |
| Entity type | Company |
| Canonical URL | https://registry.alpha.ac/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc |
| Publication | PUBLISHED |
| Verification | source_reported |
| Verification schema | alpha-verification-states-v1 |
| Ownership | unclaimed |
| Published claims | 17 |
| Claims under review | 1 |
| Evidence records | 6 |
| Conflicts | 0 |
| Conflicts in internal review | 0 |
| Observed | 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00 |

## Identity

- Legal name: Alignment Healthcare, Inc.
- Display name: Alignment Healthcare, Inc.

## Alpha Governance Record

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Governance Record schema | alpha-governance-record-v2 |
| Ontology | alpha-governance-ontology-v1 |
| Record version | public-1:d751713988987e9331980363e24189ce:ro-d751713988987e9331980363e24189ce |
| As of | 2026-10-16T04:59:26.604857+00:00 |
| Completeness | 0.409 |
| Record Quality | 0.832 |
| Directors | 3 |
| Committees | 5 |
| Governance events | 11 |
| Entity class | public_company |

## Section coverage

| Section | State |
| --- | --- |
| identity | PUBLISHED |
| corporate_structure | NOT_REVIEWED |
| board | PUBLISHED |
| committees | PUBLISHED |
| leadership | PUBLISHED |
| ownership | NOT_REVIEWED |
| financials | NOT_REVIEWED |
| capital_structure | PUBLISHED |
| compensation | NOT_REVIEWED |
| governance | NOT_REVIEWED |
| shareholder_governance | NOT_REVIEWED |
| audit | NOT_REVIEWED |
| legal | NOT_REVIEWED |
| risk | NOT_REVIEWED |
| cyber | NOT_REVIEWED |
| ai_governance | NOT_REVIEWED |
| agent_governance | RESTRICTED |
| markets_external | NOT_REVIEWED |
| events | PUBLISHED |
| relationships | PUBLISHED |
| assessments | PUBLISHED |
| evidence | PUBLISHED |

## Board

- David Hodgson: Director. Status: current. Independent: true. Since: 2014-01-01. Committees: Nominating and Governance (chair); Nominating and Governance · Chair (member). claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:5
- Jacqueline Kosecoff: Director. Status: current. Independent: true. Since: 2017-01-01. Committees: Compensation (chair); Compensation · Chair; Nominating and Governance (member); Nominating and Governance (member). claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:6
- Jody Bilney: Director. Status: current. Independent: true. Since: 2022-01-01. Committees: Audit (member). claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:7

## Committees

- Audit (audit). Chair: NOT_PUBLISHED. Members: Jody Bilney (member, current). committee_id=alpha:committee:alignment-healthcare-inc:audit
- Compensation (compensation). Chair: Jacqueline Kosecoff. Members: Jacqueline Kosecoff (chair, current). committee_id=alpha:committee:alignment-healthcare-inc:compensation
- Compensation · Chair; Nominating and Governance (compensation). Chair: NOT_PUBLISHED. Members: Jacqueline Kosecoff (member, current). committee_id=alpha:committee:alignment-healthcare-inc:compensation-chair-nominating-and-governance
- Nominating and Governance (nominating_governance). Chair: David Hodgson. Members: David Hodgson (chair, current); Jacqueline Kosecoff (member, current). committee_id=alpha:committee:alignment-healthcare-inc:nominating-and-governance
- Nominating and Governance · Chair (nominating_governance). Chair: NOT_PUBLISHED. Members: David Hodgson (member, current). committee_id=alpha:committee:alignment-healthcare-inc:nominating-and-governance-chair

## Executive leadership

- Andreas Wagner: Chief Human Resources Officer [CHRO]. Status: current. claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:8
- James M. Head: Chief Financial Officer [CFO]. Status: current. claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:9
- John Kao: Chief Executive Officer [CEO]. Status: current. claim_id=alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:10

## Governance events

- EXECUTIVE_APPOINTED: Andreas Wagner executive of Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2026-02-27. Effective: 2026-02-27. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:4nvwhsugj4ve
- CFO_CHANGED: James M. Head executive of Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2026-02-27. Effective: 2026-02-27. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:qyf93ylawjoo
- CEO_CHANGED: John Kao executive of Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2026-02-27. Effective: 2026-02-27. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:xlgjt94c5ty1
- DIRECTOR_APPOINTED: Jody Bilney seat on Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2022-01-01. Effective: 2022-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:1yj70yn1939feh
- COMMITTEE_MEMBER_ADDED: Jody Bilney member of Audit, effective 2022-01-01. Effective: 2022-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:17kishu18yp15k
- DIRECTOR_APPOINTED: Jacqueline Kosecoff seat on Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2017-01-01. Effective: 2017-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:y2jvsgav4qe
- COMMITTEE_CREATED: Compensation · Chair; Nominating and Governance committee of Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2017-01-01. Effective: 2017-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:18p0psk6n9ri
- COMMITTEE_MEMBER_ADDED: Jacqueline Kosecoff member of Compensation · Chair; Nominating and Governance, effective 2017-01-01. Effective: 2017-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:10abr201724sec
- DIRECTOR_APPOINTED: David Hodgson seat on Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2014-01-01. Effective: 2014-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:utno6u1vjcvf6
- COMMITTEE_CREATED: Nominating and Governance · Chair committee of Alignment Healthcare, Inc., effective 2014-01-01. Effective: 2014-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:sff1da1unt60q
- COMMITTEE_MEMBER_ADDED: David Hodgson member of Nominating and Governance · Chair, effective 2014-01-01. Effective: 2014-01-01. Detected: 2026-10-16T04:46:05.057813+00:00. event_id=alpha:event:transition:1svivxv38emo9

## Scoped resources

- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/identity` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=identity
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/corporate-structure` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=corporate-structure
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/board` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=board
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/committees` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=committees
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/leadership` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=leadership
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/ownership` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=ownership
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/financials` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=financials
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/capital-structure` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=capital-structure
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/compensation` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=compensation
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/governance` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=governance
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/shareholder-governance` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=shareholder-governance
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/audit` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=audit
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/legal` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=legal
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/risk` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=risk
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/cyber` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=cyber
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/ai-governance` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=ai-governance
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/agents` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=agents
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/ecosystem` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=ecosystem
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/events` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=events
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/relationships` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=relationships
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/assessments` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=assessments
- `alpha://company/alignment-healthcare-inc/evidence` (contract): https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record&section=evidence

## Role modules

- NOT_ASSERTED

## Attention

- NO_RECORDS_FOUND

## Committee data

- Claim alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:12: `{"kind":"committee_appointment","original_name":"Audit","category":"audit","role":"member","person":{"alpha_id":"alpha:person:jody-bilney","name":"Jody Bilney"},"source_id":"board_seats"}`
- Claim alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:14: `{"kind":"committee_appointment","original_name":"Compensation","category":"compensation","role":"chair","person":{"alpha_id":"alpha:person:jacqueline-kosecoff","name":"Jacqueline Kosecoff"},"source_id":"board_seats"}`
- Claim alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:16: `{"kind":"committee_appointment","original_name":"Nominating and Governance","category":"nominating_governance","role":"chair","person":{"alpha_id":"alpha:person:david-hodgson","name":"David Hodgson"},"source_id":"board_seats"}`
- Claim alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:17: `{"kind":"committee_appointment","original_name":"Nominating and Governance","category":"nominating_governance","role":"member","person":{"alpha_id":"alpha:person:jacqueline-kosecoff","name":"Jacqueline Kosecoff"},"source_id":"board_seats"}`

## Leadership

- David Hodgson: Director, Nominating and Governance · Chair. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:5. Valid from: 2014-01-01. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:958ec6f58da7da38dfd3f7f40b9434f84d857bfea2bd8a445ab56e8ae5d293cb.
- Jacqueline Kosecoff: Director, Compensation · Chair; Nominating and Governance. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:6. Valid from: 2017-01-01. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:958ec6f58da7da38dfd3f7f40b9434f84d857bfea2bd8a445ab56e8ae5d293cb.
- Jody Bilney: Director, Audit. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:7. Valid from: 2022-01-01. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:958ec6f58da7da38dfd3f7f40b9434f84d857bfea2bd8a445ab56e8ae5d293cb.
- Andreas Wagner: Chief Human Resources Officer. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:8. Valid from: 2026-02-27. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:f4eb606ec90fd9e154521bab4972d2af3c4229d64860796c40ccafe4492e92ee.
- James M. Head: Chief Financial Officer. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:9. Valid from: 2026-02-27. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:df2f492cecf697d4852498ead315943298b8c1ebbb9cd423f2e03ed0a8e598e4.
- John Kao: Chief Executive Officer. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:leadership_role:10. Valid from: 2026-02-27. Valid to: NOT_ASSERTED. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:document:969738fb80c2d23f12f2bd2119e02ee93597b76df97e87e6a22a172b0e5aa643.

## Roles

- PUBLISHED

## Governance

- NOT_ASSERTED

## Board committees

- Audit: Chair not stated; Members Jody Bilney. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_record:11. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.
- Compensation: Chair Jacqueline Kosecoff; Members Jacqueline Kosecoff (Chair). Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_record:13. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.
- Nominating and Governance: Chair David Hodgson; Members David Hodgson (Chair); Jacqueline Kosecoff. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_record:15. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.

## Financials

- NOT_ASSERTED

## Workforce

- NOT_ASSERTED

## Market and index context

- PUBLISHED

## Legal Name

- Alignment Healthcare, Inc.. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:legal_name:1. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:afe6d307e8be6ebe3301b8689a7333a798266e8d7c4944a7a95d810d398c8855.

## Entity Status

- Public listing published. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:entity_status:3. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:afe6d307e8be6ebe3301b8689a7333a798266e8d7c4944a7a95d810d398c8855.

## Published Fact

- US. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:published_fact:4. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:afe6d307e8be6ebe3301b8689a7333a798266e8d7c4944a7a95d810d398c8855.

## Committee Appointment

- Jody Bilney: member, Audit. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:12. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.
- Jacqueline Kosecoff: chair, Compensation. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:14. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.
- David Hodgson: chair, Nominating and Governance. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:16. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.
- Jacqueline Kosecoff: member, Nominating and Governance. Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:committee_appointment:17. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b.

## Security Listing

- ALHC (NASDAQ). Claim: alpha:claim:company:6e6eb75e-ee11-41c7-a7d9-d25965e0e3be:security_listing:18. Publication: PUBLISHED. Verification: source_reported. Assertion: source_reported. Evidence: alpha:projection-evidence:afe6d307e8be6ebe3301b8689a7333a798266e8d7c4944a7a95d810d398c8855.

## Coverage states

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Identity | PUBLISHED |
| Business | PUBLISHED |
| Leadership | PUBLISHED |
| Board and committees | PUBLISHED |
| Governance | NOT_ASSERTED |
| Financials | NOT_ASSERTED |
| Workforce | NOT_ASSERTED |
| Ownership | NOT_ASSERTED |
| Ratings | NOT_PUBLISHED |
| Market and index context | PUBLISHED |

## Public sources

- alpha:projection-evidence:afe6d307e8be6ebe3301b8689a7333a798266e8d7c4944a7a95d810d398c8855: [Alpha canonical company public projection](https://www.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc).
- alpha:projection-evidence:document:958ec6f58da7da38dfd3f7f40b9434f84d857bfea2bd8a445ab56e8ae5d293cb: [Alignment Healthcare, Inc. DEF 14A 2026-04-24](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832466/000162828026027058/alhc-20260424.htm).
- alpha:projection-evidence:document:f4eb606ec90fd9e154521bab4972d2af3c4229d64860796c40ccafe4492e92ee: [ALHC 10-K executive officers](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832466/000162828026012545/alhc-20251231.htm).
- alpha:projection-evidence:document:df2f492cecf697d4852498ead315943298b8c1ebbb9cd423f2e03ed0a8e598e4: [ALHC 10-K executive officers](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832466/000162828026012545/alhc-20251231.htm).
- alpha:projection-evidence:document:969738fb80c2d23f12f2bd2119e02ee93597b76df97e87e6a22a172b0e5aa643: [ALHC 10-K executive officers](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832466/000162828026012545/alhc-20251231.htm).
- alpha:projection-evidence:0faa8e70a7e22e1224307ddfcb4714135bd877c2835c58a17f980d6d6eac488b: [Audit](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1832466/000162828026027058/alhc-20260424.htm).

## Rights

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| public_retrieval | allowed |
| agent_retrieval | allowed |
| redistribution | not_granted |
| model_training | not_granted |
| commercial_use | not_specified |
| relationship_pathfinding | not_granted |
| direct_contact | not_granted |

## Limitations

- Absence of a leadership role, committee, or disclosure is not evidence that it does not exist.
- Only explicitly published canonical company identity and current confirmed public roles are included.
- Absence of a board, committee, executive, listing, or claim is not evidence that it does not exist.
- Public retrieval does not grant redistribution, model-training, direct-contact, or relationship-pathfinding rights.
- This Company Profile is an identity and evidence record, not an Alpha rating.

## Alternate representations

- [Canonical profile](https://registry.alpha.ac/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc)
- [Public Markdown](https://registry.alpha.ac/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc.md)
- [Public JSON](https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=record)
- [JSON-LD](https://registry.alpha.ac/api/public/companies/alignment-healthcare-inc?format=jsonld)
- MCP resource: `alpha://companies/alignment-healthcare-inc` at https://mcp.alpha.ac/mcp


## Connected governance records

Only explicitly published, rights-cleared records. Missing records do not establish absence, safety, or complete coverage.

## Critical-risk oversight

Snapshot as of 2026-10-16T04:59:26.306769+00:00; recorded 2026-10-16T04:59:26.306769+00:00. Every published assignment for this snapshot is listed.
Only explicitly reviewed, rights-cleared assignments in effect on the as-of date, in the company's own wording.
An assignment shows where oversight is placed, not whether it is effective. Missing records do not establish absence.