@gunsaljm - If you are able to continue this insurance - at your option - forever, it is not 'continuation insurance' which has a limited life, such as COBRA. COBRA is a specific plan offered to you by law that has 18 months of coverage and then it stops.
Many large employers provide 'insurability' protection, meaning if you leave and are 'retiree eligible' you can continue paying the full, unsubsizied premium and continue the insurance. This is 'private insurance' no different than going to a Aetna or other large insurance carrier to obtain medical insurance. this is NOT 'continuation insurance"
here is a rather gory IRS document that explains 'continuous coverage'. See 'maximum coverage period' on page 12.
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/contofemployeehealthcarecoverageatg.pdf
if it is any consolation, once you are 65 and flip over to Medicare, you can withdraw the HSA money to pay for that premium.
