The verdict in three sentences
For a health insurer with 40,000 members in Berlin, a website with a premium calculator should be budgeted at EUR 30,000 to 80,000 excluding VAT and delivered in 5 to 8 months. The requirements specification must settle the question of certified health data hosting on page one, because a single quote form that collects medical information moves the whole project into a different legal regime under GDPR Article 9. Finally, accessibility compliance and the exact scope of the calculator are the two items that blow up quotes when they are poorly described.
What the specification must lock down before any tender
A good health insurer specification lets three agencies price the same project and land on gaps you can explain. The sections that drive price in 2026:
| Specification section | What to write | Budget impact (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Site map and templates | 40 to 80 pages, 8 to 12 distinct templates | EUR 6,000 to 14,000 |
| Premium calculator | Pricing rules, number of plans, PDF output or not | EUR 6,000 to 15,000 |
| Member area | SSO link to the existing portal or new build | EUR 3,000 to 25,000 |
| CMS and editorial workflow | Number of editors, compliance approval chain | EUR 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) | Target level, initial audit and statement | EUR 3,000 to 7,000 |
| Hosting | Standard or certified for health data | EUR 150 to 1,200 per month |
| Acceptance and testing | User tests with senior members, load tests | EUR 2,000 to 6,000 |
The line that creates the widest gap is the member area. If your member portal already runs on your core insurance platform, state in writing that the new site is limited to a single sign-on link. Otherwise a cautious agency will price a full build and your quote will double.
The calculator: describe the rules, not the screen
A premium calculator costs EUR 6,000 to 15,000 depending on three variables: the number of plans (3 tiers or 6), age granularity (5-year bands or exact age) and household composition (spouse, children, sliding rate from the third child). Attach the real rate table as a spreadsheet, even anonymised. An agency that receives the table prices accurately; an agency that receives a mock-up prices with a wide margin.
Health data hosting, GDPR and accessibility: the obligations that shape the project
In Germany, cloud providers handling health data for insurers are expected to hold a BSI C5 attestation, and France has its HDS certification for the same purpose. The rule of thumb is identical: certified hosting is needed as soon as personal health data is stored on behalf of a third party. An anonymous calculator that computes a premium from age and household size generally does not trigger it. An online enrolment form with a health questionnaire or upload of medical documents does.
| Feature | Data processed | Hosting required | Estimated annual extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information pages | No personal data | Standard | EUR 0 |
| Anonymous calculator | Age, household | Standard (GDPR) | EUR 0 to 500 |
| Callback request | Name, phone, email | Standard (GDPR) | EUR 0 to 500 |
| Online enrolment without questionnaire | Identity, bank details | Hardened standard | EUR 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Medical document upload | Health data | Certified health hosting | EUR 6,000 to 14,000 |
| Member area with claims | Health data | Certified health hosting | EUR 8,000 to 15,000 |
On accessibility, health insurers serve a large share of members over 60. WCAG 2.1 AA is therefore fully justified: stronger contrast, full keyboard navigation, a calculator usable with a screen reader. Require an audit on a sample of 15 to 20 pages before launch, plus a published accessibility statement.
A realistic 5 to 8 month plan
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Tender and agency selection | 4 to 6 weeks | Signed contract |
| Scoping workshops | 3 to 4 weeks | Approved specifications |
| UX and mock-ups | 4 to 6 weeks | Desktop and mobile designs |
| Development and calculator | 8 to 12 weeks | Staging site |
| Acceptance, accessibility audit, compliance sign-off | 4 to 6 weeks | Acceptance report |
| Launch and hypercare | 2 weeks | Live site |
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Julia, head of communications at a Berlin health insurer with 40,000 members (illustrative persona), receives three quotes: EUR 38,000, 54,000 and 92,000. On review, she sees the gap comes from the member area: the EUR 92,000 agency priced a full build on certified health hosting. She clarifies in an addendum that the member area stays on the core platform, with a simple SSO link. The highest quote drops to EUR 61,000, and the EUR 10,000 yearly certified hosting surcharge disappears. Over three years, clarifying that single scope item saves about EUR 31,000 in development and EUR 30,000 in hosting, EUR 61,000 in total.
FAQ
Does a health insurer's website always need certified health data hosting?
No, only if the site stores personal health data, such as medical documents or a health questionnaire. An information site with an anonymous calculator can run on standard GDPR-compliant hosting at roughly EUR 150 to 400 per month.
How much does a premium calculator cost in 2026?
Expect EUR 6,000 to 15,000 depending on the number of plans, age band granularity and household rules. Supplying the real rate table as a spreadsheet reduces uncertainty, and with it the safety margin agencies add, often 15 to 25%.
How long between writing the specification and going live?
Between 5 and 8 months in total, including 4 to 6 weeks of tendering. Acceptance with compliance sign-off often takes 4 to 6 weeks on its own, because the legal team reviews every statement about coverage.
Is accessibility mandatory for a health insurer?
Accessibility obligations extended to digital insurance services with the European Accessibility Act, applicable since June 2025. Targeting WCAG 2.1 AA with a 15 to 20 page audit costs EUR 3,000 to 7,000 and limits the risk of sanctions.
Do we need a formal tender?
Many insurers are not bound by public procurement rules, but a written consultation with 3 to 5 agencies and a scoring grid remains best practice. It makes price gaps readable for the board.
Let's scope your project. We help you define scope (calculator, member area, hosting), set an indicative budget and a realistic timeline before you go to tender. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
