i am now... finally.... able to sign up for health insurance through my work........ keeping it basic, Kaiser, or Aetna?

Do they both pay for lap band surgeries? What are the requirements for getting approved for each? What about co-pays? You need to research them both and see which one better suits your wants/needs. Just because someone else has that same insurance company doesn't mean that their policy covers the same things yours would. Employers usually decide what coverage they want in the policies that are offered through them to their employees.