Vicki Burns saved $61,000 off her hip-replacement operation by using a certain “device”…

It’s called “the free market.” The Los Angeles Times reports people are turning to the Internet to find free market solutions to skyrocketing medical expenses.

Vicki used a website called MediBid. For $4.95 per month, patients can post their surgical needs on the site. Then surgeons bid for their business. Think of online auctioneer eBay… only instead of listing your old 8-track player, you place a needed gallbladder surgery up for bids.

Vicki’s local hospital wanted to charge $79,000 for her procedure. The winning online bid of $13,400 included hospitalization, anesthesiologist, pre-operative tests, and post-surgery visits. Her total costs came out to around $18,000 (including travel expenses from New Mexico to California). The auction saved her 77%.

The news won’t surprise regular Daily readers. A system in which doctors must compete for customers will, by necessity, drive down prices and improve service.

MediBid is not the only online player in the growing free market medical space. PokitDok and ClearHealthCosts are two similar alternatives gaining popularity.

You can learn more about these free market alternatives to unbearable health costs, for free, right here. (Then, stay tuned for PBRG’s groundbreaking special report on free market medical care, coming out soon…)