You have to pay a premium upfront to the policyholder in order for the life insurance policy to continue which is a legally binding contract that pays the policy owner a death benefit on the death of the policyholder for a certain number of years of term life insurance policy. so that the insured does not stop paying premiums or surrenders if the insured does not die. The terms of term life insurance last for a year. Simply put, it is 10, 20, or 30 years.