Hello amc92,
I understand you're concerned with losing your playlists when you cancel your Apple Music subscription. I'm happy to provide you some information on this.
Once your Apple Music subscription is canceled you will lose access to the playlists you created and any music you've downloaded. Also, your music and playlists would not return if you decide to sign up for Apple Music again in the future. However, you will have access to it until the day your subscription officially ends and your purchased music would not be affected.
If keeping your subscription active isn't possible for you right now, I recommend writing down the songs in your playlists or taking screenshots of the playlists so you can set them up again the same way once you're subscribed again. Here's how to take a screenshot: Take a screenshot on your iPhone.
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Take care.