hi all...i just found out that i might be able to change my insur from Kaiser to Health Net(and i know they approve lad band) anyone have any advice on how to start the insur process w/Health Net? Do i need to go through my primary care 1st?

The answer to your last question depends on the type of plan you have. If it's a traditional HMO or POS plan, you will need to start by seeing your PCP and getting a referral to a surgeon. If you have a PPO-type plan where no referrals are necessary, you may not need to start with your PCP at all.

But my suggestion is to do it anyway. With any carrier you'll need to supply evidence of meeting their medical critera, and a PCP evaluation is typically part of that. So if you haven't done it recently, getting a physical--and being officially diagnosed as suffering from severe obesity--is a good place to start.